Vienna Murder of Ukrainian Politician’s Son Highlights Crypto Kidnapping Surge
A brutal murder in Vienna has exposed the dark underbelly of cryptocurrency wealth. Danylo K., the 21-year-old son of a Ukrainian deputy mayor, was lured to a luxury hotel garage, beaten, and forced to disclose passcodes to his crypto wallets before being killed. The attackers drained his digital assets, underscoring a global rise in violent crimes targeting crypto holders.
From the US to Europe, criminals are increasingly resorting to physical coercion—so-called 'five-dollar wrench attacks'—to steal cryptocurrencies. Experts warn that hardware wallets and robust security protocols are no longer optional for high-net-worth individuals in the digital asset space.