Canadian Man in Hiding After Claims of Bitcoin-Related Abduction Attempts

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A Canadian cryptocurrency forum moderator, who remains anonymous, is said to have gone into hiding with his family after an apparent kidnapping threat aimed at stealing their Bitcoins.

Reports indicate that a man has had to shift his family from one Airbnb to another due to the police seemingly being unable to ensure their security.

Criminals Intended to Torture Victim

In relation to the harrowing incident I recently experienced, I shared with La Presse newspaper in Quebec that my would-be captors appeared to be ready to employ violence not only against me but also my children, to fulfill their malicious objective. They were armed with instruments of torture, and it seemed they had plans to inflict harm using a two-foot square tarpaulin with a hole in the center and sharp edges, resembling claws.

The trouble for the victim started on November 4, 2024, as two masked individuals intimidated him outside his residence. However, he quickly secured his door before they could force their way in. On November 8, he reported observing a car without a license plate loitering near his home, leading him to reach out to the authorities.

A short while after that, the man mentioned he’d encountered the same peculiar vehicle on a busy highway. Before he knew it, the vehicle veered off course, prompting him to stop. One of the passengers in the car allegedly brandished a gun at the unrecognized person, leading him to resort to pepper spray for self-defense.

After thorough investigations, police detained four individuals, two of whom faced court proceedings in November 2024. They were charged with conspiring an abduction and unlawfully holding firearms. Remarkably, these suspects had no previous criminal histories. Consequently, they were granted bail and placed under house arrest until March 2025, when their trial was set to commence.

As a crypto analyst, I found myself living with constant unease after a recent move, as I harbored suspicions that my assailants might be connected to the underworld of organized crime. Consequently, I was forced to seek temporary refuge in various locations.

As reported by the police, the suspects apparently thought the victim possessed approximately 2.5 million Bitcoins due to misinformation from a Facebook page he had been managing for several years. Yet, the individual maintains that his Bitcoin assets might not be worth more than $10,000 in total.

Rising Threats

Jameson Lopp, one of Casa’s co-founders, has shared that over the past few years, more than 100 physical assaults have occurred against Bitcoin holders. In October 2024, this crypto security expert compiled an archive detailing various instances of violence experienced by digital asset owners. These incidents include stabbing cases in New York City and kidnappings reported in Lithuania and Turkey.

This recent incident indicates an increasing number of kidnappings linked to cryptocurrencies, particularly in Canada. Last November, Dean Skurka, the CEO of a well-known crypto company called WonderFi, was allegedly abducted in Toronto and compelled to pay approximately $720,000 to ensure his safe release.

This recent case suggests a growing trend of kidnappings related to cryptocurrencies, specifically in Canada. In November of the previous year, Dean Skurka, who serves as CEO at prominent crypto firm WonderFi, was reportedly kidnapped in Toronto and forced to pay around $720,000 to secure his freedom.

During the same month, authorities in Montreal found the body of crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi, who had been abducted earlier that year together with three others. Mirshahi was under investigation for promoting a fraudulent investment scheme related to a cryptocurrency called Marsan (MRS). The value of this digital currency dropped dramatically by over 90%, leading to significant financial losses for thousands of investors.

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2025-01-12 01:32