The richest family's heiress in Canada lost over $80 million due to her fren's management of encryption investments! The XPRT token recommended by a psychic has triggered a chain of disputes.

Taylor Thomson, heir to the Canadian Thomson Reuters Group, has recently been involved in a massive Crypto Assets loss incident. Through an investment account managed by his friend Ashley Richardson, he lost over $80 million within a few months, involving more than ten Crypto Assets including Persistence (XPRT). It is reported that this investment initially stemmed from a recommendation of the XPRT Token by a psychic, and subsequent disputes over transaction authorization and asset custody have led to legal actions. This article will detail the sequence of events and analyze the common risks of entrusted management of Crypto Assets.

[Event Background: The Journey of a Rich Heiress in Crypto Investment]

As the sole heir of Canada's wealthiest family, Taylor Thomson had maintained a close friendship with Ashley Richardson for over a decade, with both often traveling together and visiting each other's homes. In 2021, their relationship began to shift towards financial collaboration. At that time, Richardson was introduced to Persistence (XPRT) Token on the recommendation of a psychic, and immediately persuaded Thomson to invest together. Ultimately, Thomson invested over $40 million in purchasing XPRT and further expanded to at least a dozen other Crypto Assets.

[Investment Management Process and Dispute Focus]

Richardson claims that she spends nearly 20 hours a day managing Thompson's digital asset portfolio and executing trades, all based on Thompson's instructions, with the goal of minimizing investment losses. However, in terms of asset storage, she placed the hardware wallet containing Thompson's funds in unsecured locations such as a drawer at home.

Thompson rebutted that a large number of transactions were not authorized by him. According to a forensic investigation by consulting firm Guidepost Solutions, over 450,000 transactions were made using Thompson's funds within a few months, many of which were described as high-risk and were not approved in advance. The investigation indicated that Thompson's total losses exceeded 80 million dollars.

[Legal Litigation and Claims of Both Parties]

In 2023, Thomson officially filed a lawsuit against Richardson and the Persistence project, seeking at least $25 million in damages. The lawsuit accuses Richardson of misleading Thomson about the potential of the Token and failing to disclose the $783,700 XPRT "referral commission" she received from the project.

Richardson denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the investment decision was made jointly by both parties. She stated, "There is no formal contract between us, only clear verbal agreements, and she has repeatedly confirmed that she wants me to act on her behalf." Currently, the dispute has escalated to mutual accusations of defamation, and Richardson even represented herself in court, while the two have had no direct communication since 2022.

[Event Follow-up and Industry Insights]

Today, Thomson's legal team is still working to recover assets, while Richardson is making a living by driving for Uber and has applied for public assistance. The incident profoundly reveals how personal relationships can overshadow basic risk control mechanisms when dealing with digital assets. Informal crypto asset trading arrangements without written agreements or third-party supervision can easily evolve into high-risk legal disputes that blur the lines between finance and emotions.

[Conclusion: Risk Prevention in the Management of Crypto Assets]

This case serves as a warning for high-net-worth investors and family offices—especially concerning early Token investments. Relying on non-professional intermediaries or personal connections instead of regulated custodians may expose them to significant asset security and legal risks. As disputes of this nature increase, regulators may further clarify the fiduciary duties and operational norms in digital asset entrustment. For Crypto Assets users, it is advisable to establish clear written agreements, use multi-signature wallets, and involve independent third-party audits in any Token investment and asset management to reduce the likelihood of similar disputes.