Michaela
Didi Taihuttu, prominent Bitcoin advocate and head of the well-known “Bitcoin Family,” has confirmed a complete overhaul of his family’s security infrastructure in response to a recent surge in high-profile kidnappings involving cryptocurrency executives and their loved ones.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Taihuttu revealed that over the past eight months, the family transitioned away from hardware wallets to adopt a hybrid security system. This approach combines analog and digital methods, with their seed phrases encrypted, divided, and securely stored using blockchain-based encryption services or concealed across four continents.
“We have changed everything,” Taihuttu stated on a call from Phuket, Thailand. “Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I can’t give them more than what’s on my wallet on my phone. And that’s not a lot,” he added.
To secure their crypto assets, the Taihuttu family has adopted a decentralized storage system that divides their 24-word Bitcoin seed phrase into four segments of six words each. These segments are distributed across four continents, with a mix of digital and physical safeguards. Some portions are protected via blockchain-based encryption services, while others are manually engraved onto fireproof steel plates and concealed in undisclosed locations.
In 2017, the Taihuttu family adopted a fully Bitcoin-focused lifestyle, liquidating all their assets—including their house, cars, and even their children’s toys—to invest entirely in Bitcoin, which was valued at approximately $900 at the time.
Since then, the family has traveled to over 40 countries, living exclusively on cryptocurrency while embracing a minimalist, bank-free lifestyle. They have also documented their journey on their YouTube channel, titled “The Bitcoin Family.”
The Bitcoin family’s adoption of a hybrid security system has been driven by an increase in violent physical attacks and kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders and executives, which have become more frequent and pose significant risks to personal safety.
Moroccan authorities last week apprehended a French–Moroccan national suspected of orchestrating a high-profile cryptocurrency-related kidnapping in France. The individual, identified as Badiss Mohammed Amide Bajjou, was the subject of an Interpol red notice and is wanted by French officials on multiple charges, including abduction, unlawful detention, and holding a hostage without legal justification.
In late May, crypto investor John Woeltz appeared in Manhattan criminal court to face charges related to the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian tourist. Prosecutors claim the incident was part of an attempt to force the victim to reveal their Bitcoin password.
As concerns over personal safety grow among cryptocurrency investors, insurance providers are increasingly stepping in with specialized kidnap and ransom (K&R) coverage designed specifically for crypto holders.
However, Taihuttu has opted for a proactive approach, with personal security now a recurring topic of discussion within the family.
“We’ve been talking about it a lot as a family,” Taihuttu stated. “My kids read the news, too — especially that story in France, where the daughter of a CEO was almost kidnapped on the street.”
Despite Taihuttu’s daughters carrying only minimal amounts of cryptocurrency in their personal wallets, the family has chosen to steer clear of France altogether. The Bitcoin family has also halted travel updates and ceased filming inside their home after receiving unsettling messages from individuals who claimed to have pinpointed their location through content shared on their YouTube channel.
As part of their evolving security strategy, the Taihuttu family moved away from relying on hardware wallets, expressing concerns over the trustworthiness of third-party devices. Though they continue to use “hot” wallets for everyday transactions and managing their algorithmic trading operations, these wallets are safeguarded by multi-signature protocols — requiring multiple approvals before any transaction is authorized.
Read More
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- Russian Couple Abducted in Argentina Amid Surge in Crypto Kidnappings
- New Crypto Kidnapping Risk: Bitcoin Surge Fuels Physical Crimes
Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. 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.
