Jameson Lopp reports over 100 physical attacks on Bitcoin holders

Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp has compiled an alarming archive documenting over 100 physical assaults on Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) holders, revealing a disturbing trend of targeted violence in the crypto community. 

The “Known Physical Bitcoin Attacks” archive highlights various incidents, ranging from kidnappings to home invasions, demonstrating the real-world risks faced by those who possess significant digital assets. 

The archive begins with a harrowing incident involving Hal Finney, an early cryptocurrency pioneer, who experienced a traumatic encounter with law enforcement in 2014 due to a false report of a murder-suicide at his home. 

This was part of a year-long extortion scheme where attackers demanded 1,000 BTC, valued at over $400,000 at the time. 

The incident left a lasting impact on Finney’s family and is among the earliest documented attacks. 

Lopp himself was a victim of “swatting” in 2017, where an anonymous caller falsely reported a hostage situation at his residence, resulting in a heavy police response. 

Lopp attributed the attack to online adversaries seeking retaliation. 

Since then, the list of attacks has only grown in severity. 

It includes incidents such as the kidnapping and stabbing of Dwayne Richards in New York and the abduction of a cryptocurrency executive in Lithuania. 

One of the more prominent cases was a November 2017 robbery in Istanbul, where a businessman lost $2.83 million in BTC to a gang of assailants. 

The archive also details multiple home invasions, like the incident in England where armed men forced homeowners to transfer over 1,000 ETH. 

It reveals a global pattern, with attacks occurring in cities such as Los Angeles, Dubai, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. 

Tactics used by criminals range from kidnappings to carjackings, with one recent case involving the abduction of a toddler in exchange for a $660,000 ransom in USDT (CRYPTO:USDT). 

The increasing number of violent incidents serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with holding large amounts of digital assets.

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price was $67,545.00.