According to the latest chart from Galaxy Digital, 2025 is approaching the most dangerous year ever for cryptocurrency holders. Analyst Alex Thorn noted that in just half a year, the number of physical attacks targeting crypto owners has exceeded 25 cases, nearly matching the total for all of 2023 and soon approaching the levels of 2018 – years that recorded many serious incidents.
Increase in Extortion Crimes and Kidnappings Related to Cryptocurrency
Countries like the UAE and India are experiencing a significant increase in extortion cases targeting crypto users.
The most notable incident was the kidnapping of David Balland, co-founder of the Ledger wallet, when he and his wife were kidnapped right at home in January and were fortunate to be rescued afterward.
There was also a failed kidnapping attempt targeting the daughter of another cryptocurrency entrepreneur in France, raising alarms about the level of danger for crypto investors.
Response from Government and Businesses
In response to serious incidents, the French government has increased protection for entrepreneurs in the cryptocurrency sector.
At the same time, many companies are starting to offer separate insurance packages specifically for crypto traders to mitigate the risk of losses due to crime.
The idea of forming a task force like 'Bitcoin Mossad' has been proposed to protect long-term crypto holders by tracking down related criminals, highlighting the urgency of protecting this community amid increasingly threatened security.
