Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Executive Warns of Kidnappings and Rising Wrench Attacks on Holders

A senior executive in the cryptocurrency industry has issued a stark warning about the escalating personal risks faced by Bitcoin holders, stating that "at least one Bitcoiner gets kidnapped every week" in 2025. The comments were made by Alena Vranova, founder of SatoshiLabs, during her address at the Baltic Honeybadger 2025 conference in Riga, Latvia. Vranova highlighted what she termed "wrench attacks"—a term used to describe physical assaults, kidnappings, and extortions targeting individuals in possession of private keys or significant crypto assets [1].

Vranova emphasized that these attacks are not limited to high-net-worth investors or early adopters of Bitcoin. According to her, even small investors can become targets, with examples of kidnappings linked to as little as $6,000 in crypto and murders over $50,000 in digital assets. She noted that the frequency of such incidents appears to rise during bull markets, suggesting a direct correlation between Bitcoin's price and the number of physical threats against its holders [1].

The increasing prevalence of wrench attacks is compounded by data breaches from centralized crypto platforms. Vranova revealed that over 80 million identities of Bitcoiners and crypto users have been leaked online, with 2.2 million including home addresses. These leaks, she argued, enable criminals to identify and target victims with precision. The risks are further amplified by the interconnected nature of personal and digital identity, with compromised data potentially leading to phishing, social engineering, and identity theft [1].

A recent example of such a breach occurred in May when crypto exchange Coinbase disclosed that a subset of customer data—including home addresses—was exposed. In June, a report from Cybernews uncovered databases containing over 16 billion leaked login credentials from major platforms such as Apple, Facebook, and Google, raising concerns about the broader security landscape for crypto holders [1].

The executive’s warnings underscore a troubling trend: while the crypto industry has long been associated with financial and regulatory risks, it is now confronting unprecedented threats to personal safety. Vranova’s remarks challenge the notion that involvement in crypto is purely a financial endeavor, highlighting the real-world dangers that come with holding digital assets.

This issue is not unique to one region or demographic but has become a global concern. While the specific locations or incidents were not disclosed, the frequency of such attacks is expected to surpass previous records in 2025. As a result, many in the industry are now advocating for stronger personal safety measures, including increased vigilance, the use of secure storage solutions, and a reevaluation of the role of centralized custodians in mitigating these risks [1].

Despite the risks, analysts have forecast that Bitcoin could trade between $80,000 and $90,000 in 2025, depending on market conditions and investor sentiment. However, these projections remain speculative, and the recent kidnapping claims highlight a critical gap in the discussion around crypto—how to protect individuals from the human element of risk. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be crucial for participants, developers, and policymakers to address these security concerns head-on to ensure the safety of all involved in the digital economy [3].

Source:

[1] CoinMarketCap – https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689919ded2aecc707a2ad96b/

[3] WOWK – https://www.wowktv.com/business/press-releases/globenewswire/9509528/bitcoin-swift-announces-stage-4-presale-progress-with-106-apy-and-580k-raised