In recent months, the world has witnessed a surge in physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency investors and their loved ones. From late 2024 to early 2025, at least three high-profile incidents have been reported. Experts warn that as the cryptocurrency market continues to expand, the frequency of such crimes is likely to increase.
One of the most alarming cases occurred in France on New Year’s Eve, involving the abduction of the father of a prominent crypto influencer. According to local media, police inadvertently discovered the 56-year-old man bound, beaten, and doused in gasoline in the trunk of a car during a routine check in Le Mans. The suspects managed to escape, leaving the victim traumatized but alive.
The kidnappers had attempted to extort cryptocurrency from his son, who is well-known for flaunting his wealth on social media. The influencer’s swift decision to involve the police ultimately led to his father’s rescue.
In Pakistan, on December 29, seven individuals were apprehended for allegedly kidnapping a cryptocurrency trader and extorting $340,000. Notably, one of the detainees was a member of the Counter-Terrorism Department. The victim was abducted at night, forced into an unmarked vehicle, and coerced into transferring funds via Binance. After several harrowing hours, the trader was released.
On December 24, in Brussels, an attempted abduction targeted the wife of another crypto influencer. The assailants sought to take her hostage, but police intervention sparked a dramatic chase that ended in a crash in Bruges, resulting in the perpetrators’ arrest.
The growing number of such attacks has sparked serious concern. Jameson Lopp, a Bitcoin security expert and co-founder of Casa, predicts that 2025 could mark a record high for physical assaults on cryptocurrency owners and their families.
As a result, physical security in the coming year is becoming as critical as the protection of digital assets. In the age of cryptocurrency, public displays of wealth not only attract undue attention but also transform asset holders into prime targets for criminals.
