Tiantian Kullander, the co-founder of Hong Kong-based crypto company Amber Group, has died at the age of 30.
On the evening of Sunday (November 27), the digital asset company confirmed on its website that Kullander passed away "unexpectedly in his sleep" on November 23.
The statement did not share any other details but described the former Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs trader as "instrumental to the founding of Amber and a pillar of our success".
"He put his heart and soul into the company, in every stage of its growth. He led by example with his intellect, generosity, humility, diligence, and creativity," it added.
According to the New York Post, the young entrepreneur launched the digital-based company in 2017 with a group of financial insiders, including former Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley workers.
Originally, the founders aimed to use machine knowledge for quantitative trading but shifted to cryptocurrency in 2019 when the trading volumes for virtual finance advanced, per the Independent.
Before that, Kullander worked as a trader, and in 2019, he earned a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list - which recognizes the most gifted emerging business and industry leaders.
This year, Amber Group - which has over 300 employees in Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, and Vancouver - reached a whopping $3 billion valuation after achieving a $200 million fund.
The company wrote that Kullander - affectionately known as "TT" - was a "respected thought leader and widely recognized as a pioneer for the industry."
"His depth of knowledge, his willingness to collaborate and his desire to always help others benefited countless start-ups and individuals," they continued.
The statement noted that besides co-founding the firm and "building it into a multi-billion fintech unicorn," Kullander also sat on the Board of Fnatic - one of the world's most successful e-sports organizations - and founded KeeperDAO, the first on-chain liquidity underwriter.
"We lost a great partner and a true friend in TT and words cannot express our sorrow at this time," the statement said. "TT’s legacy will live on and we will work even harder to make Amber the category-defining leader of our industry, as this was TT’s ambition and dream."
Kullander was described by the company as a "devoted husband, a loving father, and a fierce friend," and is survived by his wife and son.
"His passing is a tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We kindly request that you respect their privacy during this difficult time," the statement concluded.
Our thoughts are with Kullander's family and friends at this time.