Cryptocurrency, once seen as a symbol of financial freedom, is increasingly becoming a magnet for criminals. A disturbing new trend – crypto-ransom kidnappings – is gaining momentum, and the latest news from Paris is yet another glaring example of this.
The father of a crypto entrepreneur was held captive, demanding an astronomical sum of up to 7 million euros in digital equivalent. Only thanks to the operational actions of the police was it possible to free the victim and detain five kidnappers. And this is not an isolated case. Remember the kidnapping of the co-founder of Ledger, the attack on the online streamer Amouranth or the kidnapping of the CEO of WonderFi. The scenario is the same: criminals hunt those who, in their opinion, own significant crypto assets.
Why crypto? The anonymity of transactions, the difficulty of tracking, and the potentially large amounts involved make it an attractive target for criminals. They believe that victims will be more likely to part with their digital assets than to turn to traditional financial institutions, leaving a digital trail behind.
These incidents are a serious wake-up call for the entire crypto community. Basic cyber hygiene is no longer enough. New, enhanced security measures are needed both at the level of individual users and at the level of law enforcement agencies. The world of cryptocurrency needs not only innovations, but also an effective system of protection against those who seek to profit from digital gold by dirty methods. Will this be the beginning of a new era of crypto security, or will we continue to read such criminal chronicles? Time will tell.
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