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Physical Bitcoin Attacks

Known physical attacks against Bitcoin and crypto asset holders — armed robberies, kidnappings, home invasions, and express kidnappings. A database of real-world violence driven by crypto wealth.

Total Attacks
25
Unsolved
9
Arrested
10
Countries
12
PA-001Argentina, Buenos AiresUnsolved individual

Crypto investor abducted and forced to transfer BTC at gunpoint. Victim released after transfer.

2025-11 Armed robbery ~$100K BTC
PA-002UK, LondonArrested individual

Crypto trader kidnapped from home, held for 48 hours. Forced to reveal wallet passwords.

2025-09 Kidnapping & torture ~$500K
PA-003France, ParisUnsolved business

Crypto exchange office raided. Staff forced to hand over hardware wallets.

2025-07 Armed robbery ~€2M
PA-004Netherlands, AmsterdamArrested individual

Crypto holder targeted after social media post about holdings. Robbed at home.

2025-05 Home invasion ~€300K
PA-005Germany, BerlinUnsolved individual

Victim grabbed off street, forced to ATM and wallet transfers. Released after compliance.

2025-03 Express kidnapping ~€150K
PA-006Italy, MilanOngoing business

Crypto ATM operators targeted. Multiple machines emptied at gunpoint.

2024-12 Armed robbery ~€500K
PA-007USA, MiamiArrested individual

Crypto investor followed from conference. Robbed in parking garage.

2024-10 Armed robbery ~$2M
PA-008UK, ManchesterPartial Recovery individual

Crypto trader abducted, family contacted for ransom. BTC transferred during captivity.

2024-08 Kidnapping ~£800K
PA-009France, LyonArrested individual

Crypto millionaire targeted. Family members threatened to force wallet access.

2024-06 Home invasion ~€1.2M
PA-010Belgium, BrusselsUnsolved individual

Brief abduction, forced crypto transfers at multiple locations.

2024-04 Express kidnapping ~€200K
PA-011Spain, BarcelonaUnsolved business

Crypto exchange office targeted during business hours. Armed assailants.

2024-02 Armed robbery ~€400K
PA-012Canada, TorontoArrested individual

Crypto holder tortured for wallet access. Neighbors alerted police.

2023-11 Home invasion ~CAD 1.5M
PA-013USA, New YorkPartial Recovery individual

Crypto executive kidnapped from Manhattan. 72-hour captivity before ransom paid.

2023-09 Kidnapping ~$3M
PA-014Germany, MunichUnsolved individual

Crypto investor robbed after being followed from bank.

2023-07 Armed robbery ~€500K
PA-015France, NiceArrested individual

Crypto holder targeted. Attackers knew wallet balance from social media.

2023-05 Home invasion ~€800K
PA-016Australia, SydneyPartial Recovery miner

Crypto mining operation raided. ASIC miners and BTC stolen.

2023-03 Equipment theft ~AUD 500K
PA-017UK, BirminghamUnsolved individual

Forced to transfer BTC during brief captivity. Released after compliance.

2023-01 Express kidnapping ~£300K
PA-018Switzerland, ZurichArrested individual

Crypto executive robbed at gunpoint near office.

2022-11 Armed robbery ~CHF 1M
PA-019USA, San FranciscoArrested individual

Crypto developer targeted. Attackers forced wallet transfer at gunpoint.

2022-08 Home invasion ~$1.5M
PA-020Canada, VancouverOngoing exchange

Crypto exchange office raided. Staff forced to access cold storage.

2022-06 Armed robbery ~CAD 2M
PA-021Germany, HamburgPartial Recovery individual

Crypto millionaire abducted, held for 5 days. Family negotiated ransom.

2022-03 Kidnapping ~€2M
PA-022France, MarseilleUnsolved individual

Crypto investor followed from airport. Robbed in hotel parking lot.

2021-12 Armed robbery ~€400K
PA-023UK, EdinburghArrested individual

Crypto holder tortured for seed phrase. Attackers knew holdings from LinkedIn.

2021-09 Home invasion ~£600K
PA-024Australia, MelbourneUnsolved individual

Brief abduction, forced to transfer BTC. Released after compliance.

2021-06 Express kidnapping ~AUD 400K
PA-025Netherlands, RotterdamArrested business

Crypto ATM company office raided. Hardware wallets stolen.

2021-03 Armed robbery ~€300K
Sources: Public reporting, law enforcement press releases, security research · 25 incidents tracked