Kidnappings occurred in 22 months, and crypto-wealth has caused "killing intentions"

Author: Fairy, ChainCatcher

Edited by: TB, ChainCatcher

Where do you live? When are you used to going out? Have you ever posted crypto assets on social media?

These seemingly harmless information is becoming the navigation coordinates of criminals in the real world. As Bitcoin breaks through historical highs and crypto assets enter the mainstream vision, not only institutions are paying attention, but violent criminals are also eyeing you on-chain wealth and off-chain.

The violent wave of kidnapping, coercion and coin demand may be more serious than we imagined.

The kidnapping storm has attracted political attention

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 attempted armed kidnapping in the 11th district of Paris. Four masked gangsters raided and ambushed, trying to forcibly drag the mother and son into a van. The woman resisted fiercely and seized the weapons of the criminal, causing chaos. After passers-by intervened, the kidnapper fled in a hurry.

After the incident, it quickly attracted public attention and even alarmed the French political circle. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has announced that he will urgently call cryptocurrency industry practitioners this Friday to discuss how to deal with the increasingly violent kidnapping threats against crypto entrepreneurs.

The global crypto violence

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

As of now, at least 22 physical attacks against crypto practitioners or their relatives have been recorded worldwide in the first five months of 2025, according to public tracking tools created and maintained by Jameson Lopp, chief technology officer of security firm Casa. This number almost tied to the full year of 2023 (from 24), and approached the total in 2024 (from 32). What is worrying is that these are only publicly disclosed parts, and the real numbers may be much higher than that.

Attacks are not limited to a certain area. France, Brazil, Hong Kong, Philippines... Wherever crypto wealth goes, the risk of violence also spreads. We have sorted out some cases:

How to build a safety line in life?

The on-chain address reveals the scale of assets, social media speeches reveal activity trajectories, and lifestyles imply economic strength. When risks spread from the virtual world to real life, how can we protect the personal and property safety of ourselves and our families?

True security begins with consciousness and is also implemented in every detail of life. ChainCatcher brings together some practical suggestions to help you build a real line of security from your daily routine:

Low-key is the safest protective layer

Try to avoid posting screenshots of your assets, transaction returns, etc. If you are a KOL or trader with public identity, it is recommended to "desensitize" your on-chain address to avoid directly linking your identity with huge assets.

Do not disclose location information at will

Many people are accustomed to posting content like "just arrived in Singapore" and "Going in Central Hong Kong tonight" on social media, which will greatly reduce the cost of being "precisely scouted". It is recommended to delay posting location news and avoid disclosing permanent residence, travel routes and hotel addresses. During the industry meetings, try to keep your accommodation and itinerary confidential.

Isolate the real identity on the chain

High net worth wallets should be separated from social identity as much as possible. Avoid setting the ENS domain name, address abbreviation, and X username too similar to reduce the possibility of the social graph being restored.

Be cautious when meeting, and friends need to verify

Some criminals set up a plan under the banner of "commercial negotiations" and "offline meetings". In over-the-counter trading, it is preferred to monitor public places (such as Starbucks, office building halls), inform your friends about their whereabouts in advance, and set up a timely safety reporting mechanism.

Set "home" as a part of the security system

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

Safety awareness is a "consensus agreement" between family members

Safety awareness should not be borne only by individuals. Even if you are vigilant, your family, children or assistants around you should have a basic sense of prevention, such as not revealing location information or asset status on the phone, and knowing how to identify phishing emails and scam text messages. For high net worth individuals, the entire family may often become a potential target of attack, so all members should receive basic education on digital security and physical security.

Preset emergency response plan

If you are managing a larger volume of crypto assets, it is recommended to develop an "emergency strategy" to ensure that even if you are attacked, it can prevent funds from being transferred quickly. At the same time, establish an "emergency code" mechanism with trusted contacts, and once they are coerced, they can send a help signal. For high-risk groups, consider purchasing "kidnapping and ransomware insurance" or hiring a professional security team.

Wealth is visible, safety is priceless

When violence becomes the most primitive "private key extractor", no matter how many 2FAs are, they can do nothing. We have long been accustomed to defending our assets, but we often ignore the most vulnerable part: our flesh and blood.

A cold wallet can protect wealth, and a calm sense of security can save your life.