Bitcoin investors are facing a growing physical security risk. According to Alena Vranova, founder of SatoshiLabs, at least one Bitcoin holder is kidnapped somewhere in the world every week. Speaking at the Baltic Honeybadger 2025 conference in Riga, Latvia, she warned that even modest crypto holdings can make someone a target for violent criminals.
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“What seems to be a problem only for Bitcoin OGs is not really the case,” Vranova said. “We have seen cases of kidnappings for as little as $6,000 worth of crypto, and we have seen people murdered for $50,000 in crypto.” The trend includes wrench attacks, where assailants use threats or violence to force victims to hand over their private keys, and other forms of extortion.
Kidnappings Are on Track to Double This Year
Physical attacks against Bitcoin and crypto holders in 2025 are on track to double those in the previous worst year on record. The rise in these crimes has led investors, developers, and executives to take more robust personal safety measures, from avoiding public discussion of their holdings to upgrading home security systems.
The trend has been linked to Bitcoin’s price cycles, with attacks becoming more frequent during bull markets. With Bitcoin trading above $119,000, analysts fear the current surge in valuation could further fuel criminal activity.
Data Leaks Amplify Security Risks
Vranova highlighted that data breaches from centralized exchanges and other crypto service providers have made it easier for criminals to locate potential victims. Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance forces exchanges to store sensitive personal data, which can be exposed during hacks.
“We currently have more than 80 million Bitcoiner and crypto user identities leaked online; 2.2 million out of those contain home addresses,” she said. These leaks provide criminals with detailed target lists, raising the danger for anyone with significant, or even small, crypto holdings.
Cybersecurity Failures Continue to Feed the Problem
The threat has been compounded by recent large-scale breaches. In May, Coinbase (COIN) revealed a data breach that exposed customer addresses and personal information. A month later, cybersecurity researchers uncovered 16 billion leaked login credentials from major tech platforms, including Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms’ Facebook (META), and Google (GOOGL).
These leaks not only raise the risk of physical crime but also open the door to phishing attacks, social engineering, identity theft, and targeted scams designed to drain wallets. For many in the industry, the convergence of high crypto prices, widespread personal data leaks, and the rise in physical attacks is a dangerous mix for investor safety.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is sitting at $119,074.23.
