Europe’s Crypto Holders Facing Violent Home Raids—$4.3 Million Bitcoin Stolen

A sharp rise in violent home invasions targeting crypto holders has been reported, particularly in Western Europe. In a post on X last Thursday, Blockchain investigator ZachXBT said he received numerous messages from victims, revealing a pattern of criminals using extreme force to steal cryptocurrency. These incidents involve armed attackers forcing individuals to transfer their digital assets on the spot.

ZachXBT made the same claim in a Telegram message on September 27. However, he revealed that one incident involved a user on the social media platform X, who lost $4.3 million in cryptocurrency during a home invasion in June 2024. ZachXBT stated that the thieves likely obtained the victim’s personal information through a data breach. Masquerading as delivery personnel, the attackers entered the victim’s home armed with machetes and forced them to transfer the cryptocurrency to two dormant wallet addresses.

High-Profile Crypto Executives Targeted in Violent Robberies

ZachXBT has warned crypto holders to be cautious, advising them not to share personal details or information about their cryptocurrency holdings. According to data compiled on GitHub, at least 15 documented incidents of offline crypto-related robberies occurred worldwide in the past year, with 17 cases in 2023 and 32 in 2021. These figures show a notable presence of such crimes, with Western Europe being one of the regions most affected in recent months.

A high-profile case from September 2024 involved Nick Drakon, the former CEO of Revelo Intel. At the time, he reported that a criminal group targeted him. He described how the group surveilled him and eventually forced him at gunpoint to transfer Bitcoin from personal and company accounts, threatening his family in the process. This case is one of several where high-profile individuals in the cryptocurrency community have been targeted for their holdings.

Law Enforcement Actions

Law enforcement agencies have investigated these incidents, with some cases leading to arrests. In June 2024, a Florida man was convicted of leading a series of home invasions aimed at stealing cryptocurrency. Between December 2022 and July 2023, the convicted individual and his group carried out violent attacks, using kidnapping and threats to force their victims into transferring cryptocurrency to wallets controlled by the thieves.

Data breaches and sharing of personal information have contributed to the rise in these incidents, which remain a serious threat to cryptocurrency holders worldwide.

Lawrence does not hold any crypto asset. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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