Encryption wealth attracts "murderous intent": 22 kidnappings in 5 months, how should practitioners protect themselves?

Written by Fairy, ChainCatcher

Where do you live? What time do you usually leave? Have you ever shared your crypto assets on social media?

These seemingly harmless pieces of information are becoming the navigation coordinates for criminals in the real world. As Bitcoin breaks historical highs and crypto assets enter the mainstream spotlight, it's not just institutions that are paying attention; violent criminals are also setting their sights on on-chain wealth and you off-chain.

The wave of violence involving kidnapping, coercion, and extortion may be more serious than we imagine.

The kidnapping scandal has attracted the attention of political circles

Recently, a video has been widely circulated on the X platform: the daughter and grandson of the co-founder of the French crypto exchange Paymium recently suffered an armed kidnapping attempt in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, and four masked gangsters raided and ambushed the mother and son in an attempt to forcibly drag the mother and son into a van. The woman fiercely resisted and snatched the gangster's weapon, causing chaos, and after passers-by intervened, the kidnappers fled in a hurry.

The incident quickly attracted public attention and even alarmed the French political scene. France's Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, has announced an emergency meeting with cryptocurrency industry practitioners this Friday to discuss how to respond to the increasing threats of violent kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs.

The global spread of cryptocurrency violence

This attempted kidnapping incident in Paris is just the tip of the iceberg of a series of violent threats facing the cryptocurrency industry.

So far, in the first five months of 2025 alone, at least 22 physical attacks against crypto practitioners or their relatives have been recorded worldwide, according to a publicly available tracking tool created and maintained by Jameson Lopp, chief technology officer at security firm Casa. That's almost the same number as all of 2023 (24) and close to the 2024 total (32). Worryingly, these are only part of the public disclosure, and the real figure may be much higher.

Attacks are not limited to a specific region. France, Brazil, Hong Kong, the Philippines... wherever crypto wealth goes, the risk of violence spreads. We have compiled some cases:

How to build a line of security in life?

On-chain addresses expose the scale of assets, statements on social media reveal activity trajectories, and lifestyles imply economic strength. When risks spread from the virtual world to real life, how can we protect ourselves and our family's personal and property safety?

True security begins with awareness and is manifested in every detail of life. ChainCatcher has compiled some practical suggestions to help you establish a real security defense from your daily routines:

Keeping a low profile is the safest form of protection.

Try to avoid exposing your assets, trading profit screenshots, etc. If you are a public figure such as a KOL or trader, it is recommended to "de-sensitize" your on-chain address to avoid directly associating your identity with large assets.

Do not disclose location information casually.

Many people are accustomed to posting content on social media such as "Just arrived in Singapore" or "Gathering in Central Hong Kong tonight," which significantly reduces the cost of being "precisely tracked." It is advisable to delay posting location updates to avoid revealing your permanent residence, travel routes, and hotel addresses. During industry conferences, try to keep your accommodation and itinerary confidential.

Do a good job of segregating the on-chain from the real identity

High net worth wallets should try to detach from social identity associations. Avoid making ENS domain names, address abbreviations, and X usernames too similar to reduce the possibility of social graphs being reconstructed.

Meetings require caution, and friends need verification.

Some criminals are setting traps under the guise of "business negotiations" and "offline meetings". In over-the-counter transactions, it is advisable to choose monitored public places (such as Starbucks or office building lobbies), inform friends of your whereabouts in advance, and establish a regular check-in mechanism for safety.

Make "home" a part of the security system.

Consider using a business address to receive couriers. Installing smart door locks, cameras, and alarm systems can not only improve vigilance capabilities, but also form countermeasures when danger occurs.

Security awareness is a "consensus agreement" between family members

Security awareness should not be solely the responsibility of individuals. Even if one remains vigilant, family members, children, or assistants nearby should also possess basic preventive awareness, such as not disclosing location information or asset status over the phone, and knowing how to identify phishing emails and scam messages. For high-net-worth individuals, the entire family may often become potential targets for attacks, so all members should receive basic education on digital and physical security.

Pre-set emergency response plans

If you manage a large amount of cryptocurrency assets, it is advisable to develop an "emergency strategy" to ensure that funds can be prevented from being quickly transferred even in the event of an attack. At the same time, establish an "emergency code" mechanism with trusted contacts, so that a distress signal can be sent if coercion occurs. For high-risk groups, consider purchasing "kidnap and ransom insurance" or hiring a professional security team.

Wealth is visible, security is priceless.

When violence becomes the most primitive "private key extractor", no amount of 2FA can do anything. We've become accustomed to defending our assets, but we often lose sight of the most vulnerable part: our flesh and blood.

Cold wallets can protect wealth, and a calm security awareness is essential to preserve life.