Spanish police have arrested 5 folks and charged 4 others in Denmark over the kidnapping and killing of a person who was focused for his cryptocurrency holdings, authorities mentioned Thursday.
Key Takeaways:
- Police arrested suspects in Spain and Denmark over a violent, crypto-linked kidnapping and killing.
- The case concerned bodily coercion to entry victims’ cryptocurrency wallets.
- It highlights rising safety dangers for particular person crypto holders.
The arrests observe a joint investigation that uncovered what police described as a cross-border felony group centered on stealing digital belongings by means of violent means.
Spanish and Danish authorities coordinated the operation, which concerned a number of raids and the seizure of weapons and digital units.
Masked Gunmen Abduct Couple in Málaga Crypto Case
The case got here to mild in April, when a girl reported to police in Málaga that she and her associate had been kidnapped within the close by city of Mijas.
Based on investigators, the couple was ambushed by three or 4 masked males wearing black and armed with handguns.
Police mentioned the person was shot within the leg as he tried to flee. Each victims have been then compelled right into a automobile and brought to a home, the place they have been held for a number of hours.
Throughout the captivity, the attackers tried to achieve entry to the couple’s cryptocurrency wallets.
The girl was launched round midnight. Her associate didn’t survive. His physique was later found in a wooded space, displaying indicators of violence along with the gunshot wound, authorities mentioned.
Spanish police have arrested 5 folks for the kidnapping & homicide of a person focused for his cryptocurrency holdings, whereas one other 4 suspects have been charged in Denmark in reference to the identical plot. The assault occurred in April in southern Spain.https://t.co/hEnOk3GgZp
— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) December 11, 2025
As a part of the investigation, police carried out six raids at properties in Madrid and Málaga. Officers seized two handguns, one actual and one imitation, together with a baton, blood-stained clothes, cellphones, and paperwork believed to be linked to the crime. Organic proof related to the scene was additionally recovered.
In Denmark, police charged 4 suspects in reference to the case. Two of them have been already serving jail sentences for related offenses, in response to authorities.
The incident highlights a rising concern inside the crypto trade: bodily assaults aimed toward forcing victims to give up entry to digital wallets.
Also known as “wrench assaults,” these crimes have drawn elevated consideration in latest months, prompting renewed requires higher private safety practices amongst crypto holders.
Violent ‘Wrench Assaults’ on Crypto Holders Surge
Violent assaults focusing on cryptocurrency holders are on observe to achieve report ranges in 2025, in response to a report from blockchain analytics agency Chainalysis.
As of July, 35 so-called “wrench assaults” have already been recorded worldwide, placing the 12 months on tempo to surpass the earlier peak seen throughout the 2021 bull market.
Chainalysis mentioned crypto-related crime is more and more shifting from on-line exploits to real-world violence. Greater than $2.17 billion has been stolen from crypto companies thus far this 12 months, already exceeding the overall for all of 2024, with practically 1 / 4 of losses now coming from private pockets assaults.
Bitcoin holders are going through increased common losses, as criminals give attention to large-value wallets, significantly in areas with rising retail adoption.
The Asia-Pacific area has emerged as one of many hardest hit, rating second globally for Bitcoin stolen and third for Ether theft.
Nations together with Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Philippines have reported an increase in incidents, some with extreme outcomes.
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