Alexander Edward Kearns (November 16, 1999 - June 12, 2020), was an American college student and stock trader attending the University of Nebraska. He committed suicide on June 12, 2020, after seeing a $730,000 negative balance in his bank account from trading on Robinhood. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

He was attending the University of Nebraska prior to his death.

^{[1] [7]}

Kearns apparently fell into despair after looking at his Robinhood account, which appeared to have $16,000 in it but also showed a cash balance of negative $730,165.

In his suicide note, Kearns insisted that he never authorized margin trading and was shocked to find his small account could rack up such an apparent loss. ^[1]

Kearns was pronounced deceased on Friday June 12, 2020 at the rail road crossing on 111th street near the intersection of Cedar Road in Naperville, Illinois. ^[1]

News about Keanrs' death became viral thanks to the Twitter thread by his relative Bill Brewster, analyst at Chicago-based firm Sulimar Capital. The story was picked up by Forbes magazine,^[8] Brewster later told local media:

Brewster is hoping that by spreading awareness, Robinhood will make changes to its interface so that other tragedies can be avoided.

^[3]

Bitcoin trader Tone Vays apologized after June 17th Tweet in which apparently used Kearns' death in order to promote his own 3000 US$ risk options trading course. The tweet was made in such way that it gave impression of Vays laughing at Kearns' misfortune. ^[9]