\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{etoolbox}
\tracingpatches
\usepackage{multicol}
\makeatletter
\show\balance@columns
\edef\reset@newlinechar{\newlinechar\the\newlinechar}
\newlinechar-1 %
\patchcmd{\balance@columns}
{\ifshr@nking \vfill \fi}
{\CHANGED}
{}
{}
\show\balance@columns
\reset@newlinechar