Streamer Battling Cancer Lost $32K, Then Crypto Restored Hope
When life throws a one-two punch of medical bills and financial loss, decentralized finance delivers a counterstrike.
From Devastation to Digital Salvation
The streaming community witnessed an unprecedented rally when one of their own faced simultaneous health and financial crises. Medical expenses piled up while traditional financial systems moved at glacial speeds.
Crypto's Rapid Response
Digital asset networks bypassed banking bureaucracy, processing support transfers in minutes rather than weeks. The $32,000 loss—which would have crippled most emergency funds—became a rallying point for decentralized assistance.
Blockchain's Human Face
While Wall Street debates yield percentages, real people are using cryptocurrency for actual survival. The streamer's community demonstrated that peer-to-peer networks can outperform traditional safety nets—with significantly less paperwork than a conventional loan application.
Sometimes the most valuable assets aren't on balance sheets but in distributed ledgers of human compassion. Even if traditional financiers still don't understand the difference between a blockchain and a block of cheese.
‘Help Me Beat Cancer’
The streamer’s real name is Raivo Plavnieks. He was born in Latvia and earlier this year was diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Treatment costs have put a heavy burden on his family. To raise funds, Raivo launched his token and began streaming games under the nickname Rastaland.
Even before $CANCER, Raivo was active on X (formerly Twitter), documenting his treatment journey. He also raised money via GoFundMe, including crypto donations. On Aug. 6, he launched another token, $SURVI4, but $CANCER was the one that gained him wider attention.
I just secured $SURVI4 on @BagsApp
Tap below to buy with my link
https://t.co/2gw52fpgmf
This came as Pump.Fun started developing a new trend around streamers and streamer tokens, which has been gaining traction across the platform. The project recently introduced creator fees, which Raivo hoped WOULD help cover his medical expenses.
Solidarity With a Streamer
Scams, hacks, and theft have long been synonymous with crypto, and the community often debates its responsibility in tackling them. When Raivo’s wallet was drained live, it looked like yet another example of exploitation. But this case took a different turn.
Just days later, investigators tracked down the attacker, who was arrested in Miami.
BREAKING
Valentin Lopez has officially been arrested by Miami PD on charges of wire fraud and computer fraud.
This arrest is suspected to be related to the recent $CANCER theft of $30,000 USD.
CT is more powerful than ever right now. pic.twitter.com/VpiVyeHo3T
The crypto community also responded quickly. The $CANCER token gained popularity as a symbol of solidarity, and many users sent funds simply to support the streamer. Raivo had lost around $32,000, but thanks to donations, he recovered the funds and more. Pump.Fun co-founder Alon intervened personally, ensuring that creator rewards were redirected to a secure wallet.
For anybody wondering what is going on with $CANCER live stream… my life was saved for whole 24 hours untill someone tuned in my stream and got me to download verified game on @Steam
After this I was drained for over 32,000$ USD of my creator fees earned on @pumpdotfun and… pic.twitter.com/8YH4njd46E
High-profile figures also joined in. solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko reportedly bought $140,000 worth of $CANCER.
@aeyakovenko bought $140k worth of $CANCER !
I can check this by @deep_agents analysis trough @Selina_Deep their special agent for market behavior and holders analysis !
When Toly is around I’m adding more !
Check this
pic.twitter.com/IUIBPWvktg
Meanwhile, a well-known crypto trader with 1.3 million followers on X donated $32,500 to fully cover the stolen funds.
Update on @rastalandtv and $CANCER
The most shocking crypto scam has transformed into an inspiring comeback story thanks to a $30,000 donation from @ZssBecker
Valentin Lopez took a stage 4 cancer patient's tokens during a live stream. The online community reacted by tracking… pic.twitter.com/BTKpkMs1nJ
A New Scheme to Steal Your Crypto
The case highlights both the dark and bright sides of crypto. On one hand, malware disguised as a Steam game called BlockBlasters was used to steal private keys from browser-based wallets. On Sept. 20, another X user reported losing $15,000 to the same scheme, noting that the stolen funds were routed through an OKX-linked wallet.
Urgent https://t.co/2XwOuQcC0z and @Steam warning!
There is maliscious software hosted by steam.
The title below just drained me for $15,000 and god knows what other information from my computer.
Please take action daddy Gabe
Below i have provide the hackers address… pic.twitter.com/ihaCSpptYt
The investigation revealed an Argentinian named Valentin Lopez, who lived in Miami, as a suspect. Reports suggest it was not a solo operation but a group effort. Research by crypto investigator StarPlatinum also uncovered that Lopez was tied to the BlockBlasters scheme. It was not the first game of its kind uploaded to Steam. Other similar titles had been published with the same goal of stealing users’ assets.
The incident also raises questions about Steam’s security, since the game managed to pass approval and could have been downloaded by many others.
The $CANCER case shows how easily individuals can still fall victim to scams and hacks in crypto. At the same time, it demonstrates the power of solidarity. The community not only restored Raivo’s stolen funds but also helped identify those behind the attack.
Pump.Fun became the platform at the center of this story — a place where tragedy turned into proof that even in the most hostile corners of the market, support and unity are still possible.
