Are there such things as Crypto-currency heists?

[GuyMontag451]

I am a rather big fan of heist movies such as The Perfect Score, Ocean’s 11, the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise and many more less well-known heist movies. While watching those movies, I’m just thinking would it be possible to plan a heist to seal some crypto-currency? Moreover, are there any cryptocurrency heists that have taken place in the real world so far?

[leea-1334]

One big flaw with crypto heist. And this was demonstrated recently in the USA I believe,,, some thieves tried to run away with a Bitcoin ATM. They were successful actually in bringing the whole heavy machine away, and then all they managed to get was the dollar notes inside it. But not the Bitcoin.

Why? Private key.

Some people even remember their seed phrase and never carry around anything physical.

[Deathwing]

A heist that the world knows of? Probably no (there have been breaches into datacenters, but not direct wallets as far as I know), but something inside me tells that it must've happened at some point. It's pretty normal for regular/long-time holders to keep their wallets just installed on a computer and that's pretty much about it. People might've lost their wallets due to a burglary, or just literally being threatened by someone they know to give them their private keys.

[TRONTON]

I have watched a few bitcoin-themed films where the heist motive always targets crypto users who use smartphones, especially for travelers, most users cannot remember their own private key, so they ensure that accounts on smartphones are always signed in, or write them on their device.

publicly there hasn't been a big planning case like that in the real world, most of it is still in the large-scale investment scam mode.

[Hydrogen]

I am a rather big fan of heist movies such as The Perfect Score, Ocean’s 11, the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise and many more less well-known heist movies. While watching those movies, I’m just thinking would it be possible to plan a heist to seal some crypto-currency? Moreover, are there any cryptocurrency heists that have taken place in the real world so far?

Yes. You can read about the biggest and most notorious cryptocurrency heist in history, here:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/behind-the-biggest-bitcoin-heist-in-history-inside-the-implosion-of-mt-gox

Its entitled: Behind the Biggest Bitcoin Heist in History: Inside the Implosion of Mt. Gox

Summary:  Mt. Gox, which was once the world’s largest exchange for the decentralized virtual currency, filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2014, when it was reported that 850,000 bitcoins, worth $450 million at the time, had disappeared or been stolen by hackers. Mt. Gox said it also lost $27 million in cash.

[alyssa85]

I am a rather big fan of heist movies such as The Perfect Score, Ocean’s 11, the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise and many more less well-known heist movies. While watching those movies, I’m just thinking would it be possible to plan a heist to seal some crypto-currency? Moreover, are there any cryptocurrency heists that have taken place in the real world so far?

The answer is Yes. Some foolish people who have boasted about how much cryptocurrency they have, have been burgled and their laptops stolen.

See the following:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/28/cryptocurrency-trader-forced-at-gunpoint-to-make-bitcoin-transfer

Four men broke into the man's house and forced him to give up his private keys.

[AbuBhakar]

I'm a fan of Netflix money heist series, they're just too smart too execute their plans. I think its all applicable anywhere in any currency as long as they planned something  bad. Those who posted in social media of their wealth and crypto portfolio probably got a higher risk of being victim especially if they include their where abouts that can give criminals more reason to get robbed.

[ChrisPop]

I'm sure there are people out there who keep their bitcoin wallets' private keys in vaults like in bank security boxes or personal seifs behind paintings in the wall.. BTC can be stolen, don't think otherwise, but the thieves must change their focus from stealing BTC to stealing the actual private keys. Pretty dumb to steal a bitcoin ATM haha, why not steal a convential ATM then? haha

[DeathAngel]

Not sure but I’ve seen lots of stories of $5 wrench type attacks. Always be discrete with your crypto involvement, don’t go shouting from the roof tops that you have & are involved in bitcoin.

[mk4]

I guess we can refer exchange hackings as heists, so yes, a lot. It's not the exciting super witty 20+ successful physical confrontations while doing social engineering techniques though, they're just done in front of a computer screen.   Because why would people be exposing their physical appearance unnecessarily right? As they can do the heists on the comfort of their own homes.

With that said, I suggest watching the Netflix series: "La Casa de Papel" a.k.a. Money Heist. Not cryptocurrency related, though there is one nod at bitcoin, but you're probably going to love it.

[nicecrypto]

I am a rather big fan of heist movies such as The Perfect Score, Ocean’s 11, the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise and many more less well-known heist movies. While watching those movies, I’m just thinking would it be possible to plan a heist to seal some crypto-currency? Moreover, are there any cryptocurrency heists that have taken place in the real world so far?

Are you looking for a clue on how to stage one? (just kidding) but on a serious note i don't think such ideas is good to nurture because this will rather cause more harm than good to the crypto space, already there are enough hacking going on with some exchanges lately, we don't want it to be elaborated, i also love to watch heist movies as well as i find them very intriguing. 

[hatshepsut93]

Bitcoin is digital, so most of the stealing happens via hacking. Heists that you are talking about usually mean stealing a large amount of wealth from a vault, but we don't have them in Bitcoin - there's only one well-known vault, it belongs to Xapo and so far there were no reports of someone trying to steal from then. However, over the years there were many cases of physical Bitcoin robberies - you can check it here - https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks

[s92225]

Bud, those are physical assets, crypto is virtue asset, unless you are storing your BTC on a cold wallet and so happen that guy know your private key, they can then steal from you.

[NeuroticFish]

A lot of exchanges were hacked in Bitcoin's history. It's about vulnerabilities and hot wallets.
Just I'm not convinced a hack wold be interesting enough to make a movie about it. Maybe an inside job could add some action/drama, but may still not be enough.

[Dart18]

Are those exchange who run away considered as heists?
Yeah, they have stolen something from the people who had trusted them.
Ain't that the same way as what happened with Ocean's 11?

But for a normal bitcoin holder like me. That would be a bit of a problem.
First, the thief should know something about cryptocurrency or else he won't even try to because I dont have cash at my house or any golden accessories.
He will steal if using my computer. Who knows my password?
Another could be hacking.

[LbtalkL]

I think crypto exchanges that are hacked or sabotage hacked and run away is considered as heist. I encountered some exchanges that has a good reputation for years and suddenly shutdown. If you know cryptopia it was a decent exchange I dont know if it was planned or not but it was a big crypto heist and many are affected.

[dewin]

Actually pretty interesting question. It reminds me situation from a few months ago, when Norwegian billionaire's wife was kidnapped and whoever did it, they wanted 9 mln in cryptocurrencies, here is an article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/09/kidnappers-demand-9m-cryptocurrency-norwegian-billionaires-wife/

[VDraci]

I am a rather big fan of heist movies such as The Perfect Score, Ocean’s 11, the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise and many more less well-known heist movies. While watching those movies, I’m just thinking would it be possible to plan a heist to seal some crypto-currency? Moreover, are there any cryptocurrency heists that have taken place in the real world so far?

The answer is Yes. Some foolish people who have boasted about how much cryptocurrency they have, have been burgled and their laptops stolen.

See the following:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/28/cryptocurrency-trader-forced-at-gunpoint-to-make-bitcoin-transfer

Four men broke into the man's house and forced him to give up his private keys.

This is true, i heard about this from a friend in USA and i have seen where people are been kidnapped and asked for over 20btc for the release of the kidnapped victims

[teosanru]

I am a rather big fan of heist movies such as The Perfect Score, Ocean’s 11, the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise and many more less well-known heist movies. While watching those movies, I’m just thinking would it be possible to plan a heist to seal some crypto-currency? Moreover, are there any cryptocurrency heists that have taken place in the real world so far?

Actually there are two types of heists in Cryptocurrencies out of which one are legal and the other set is doing black hat things. First let's talke about the illegal heists. These actually are hackers, huge hackers who hack major exchanges and then mix up their money in bitcoin mixer and bring them out absolutely fresh. This is absolutely illegal.

Second set is the heists which are major trader of Cryptocurrencies. Like the top 40-50 maybe. These traders artificially create fake pumps and dumps which make them richer and richer in any dry market. These people have so large capital that their moves when done collectively can easily move the whole market in any direction. The second set are the cool heists like the one's you see in the movies.

[auntyjmary]

It is very possible in any way, I believe all these hacks that occurs on the various exchanges are all planned which can be termed as heists. We can easily classify these attacks that goes a long way to rob exchanges huge amount of money. In that way, I guess there are already planned heists that are happening.