Bitcoiner Kidnapped and Killed in Kyiv

A 29-year-old Bitcoiner was kidnapped and killed hours ago in Kyiv, Ukraine, according to the Communication Department of the National Police and local reports. Four men aged 24 to 29 are now in custody for allegedly “carefully” preparing a plan to abduct the victim and steal three bitcoins worth around $207,000.

Incident Details
Information about the man’s abduction came to the capital’s police around midnight. Residents of a house in the Solomyansk district heard screams and saw several unknown people beating and forcibly putting a man in a car. The police agency wrote in a statement (translated by Google) that the officers’ investigation found that the attack was premeditated.

Trends in Violence Against Cryptocurrency Holders
Violent attacks on cryptocurrency holders are not uncommon. For instance, at the recent ETHcc in Brussels, several conference attendees were robbed. Many leading voices in the industry argue that physical safety should be treated as part of the holder’s security setup.

Jameson Lopp, an OG Bitcoiner and Casa co-founder, who tracks violent assaults on crypto holders, stated in 2020 that he expects attacks to trend with exchange rate fluctuations. He published a “bitcoiner’s guide to organized crime” earlier this month, indicating that criminals typically identify victims through various means, including social media and public outings.

Importance of Privacy
Lopp emphasized that privacy is crucial for security. He advocates that if criminals are less aware of a person, they are less likely to target them.

Details of the Attack
The alleged perpetrators in the Kyiv assault reportedly tracked down the victim’s address as he was returning home around midnight. They beat him, forcibly dragged him to a car, and took him to an abandoned building in Kyiv region. After draining the victim’s Bitcoin wallet, the assailants strangled him and buried his body in a forest.

The police found that the attackers had changed the license plate of their car to evade detection. Cash, converted from the stolen bitcoins, and other evidence was recovered. The alleged attackers, currently in custody without the possibility of parole, have been charged with premeditated murder, robbery, and concealment, facing life sentences.