Cash App creator is pronounced dead

Bob Lee, the former chief technology officer of Square and founder of Cash App, was fatally stabbed in the early hours of Tuesday, April 4, in San Francisco.

Bill Barhydt, the CEO of the cryptocurrency wallet business Abra, tweeted on April 5 that Bob Lee “was assassinated in San Francisco early today,” linking to a story from a local news source that did not identify Lee but reported on his death.

Moreover, Jack Dorsey announced Lee’s passing on the decentralized social media network Nostr. “It’s true. Receiving calls. The snapshot of Dorsey’s post says, “Heartbreaking.”

April 4 notice from the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) stated officers responded to a report of a stabbing at approximately 2:35 a.m. local time and discovered a “43-year-old adult male victim suffering from apparent stab wounds,” adding:

“Officers rendered aid and summoned medics to the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts by first responders and medical personnel, the victim succumbed to his injuries.“

Former UFC fighter Jake Shields tweeted on April 5 about the death of a “good friend” in one of San Francisco’s “good” neighborhoods. Later, he disclosed that it was Lee, expressing his hope that it would “at least raise attention to these issues” given his “very high profile.”

Lee’s death is being aggressively investigated as a homicide, according to the SFPD. Anyone with knowledge is encouraged to contact the agency anonymously since no arrests have been made.

Lee was the chief product officer of MobileCoin, the company that created the same-named cryptocurrency with a focus on anonymity.

As the initial chief technology officer of the Dorsey-founded payments network Square, subsequently rebranded Block, and the creator of the successful mobile payment application Cash App, he rose to notoriety in the tech world.

When Lee joined MobileCoin in December 2021, he said in a statement that “the old financial system leaves behind hundreds of millions of “unbanked” individuals globally and subsequently excludes them from the accompanying advantages.”