Bitcoin / All crypto should be illegal (re: KYC/AML)

[Lock_Tightt]

The recent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie shows that all cryptocurrency should be made illegal worldwide until full KYC and AML protocols are enforced for all transactions.

If you are identifiable as a crypto holder and have dependents or loved ones, you are not just a financial target—you are a family target.
https://hyperionservices.co/bitcoin-crypto-kidnappings/
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/crypto/crypto-kidnapping-bitcoin-price-crime-rcna215047
https://www.thinkchina.sg/society/chinese-gamble-their-lives-philippines-amid-waves-kidnappings
https://www.crisis24.com/articles/crypto-kidnappings-the-rise-of-violent-crime-in-the-age-of-digital-wealth

Out of all the 'wrench attacks', only a few ever failed
https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks?tab=readme-ov-file

Kidnappings have a 90% success rate.

[FortuneFollower]

..Or you should be careful with what you have and it's just the after-affect of crypto, not the cause of such bad situations happening..

[Charles-Tim]

Before bitcoin was created, there have been people that were kidnapped. This is happening in many countries. Kidnapping is not something new and fiat are used for making the transaction for the ransom. Most of the kidnappers will prefer cash which is untraceable. So should government-created fiat should not exist because of that?

To cut someone's head is not the solution to the person's headache.

[Hatchy]

I assume you can up with the title and decided that because of these happenings crypto should be made illegal.. if people can just keep a low profile of their crypto holdings, then I think they won't meet the headlines on crypto attacks. The idea of privacy have been discussed a lot of time on the forum and it's a matter that's really concerning.. a lot of crypto influencers and big names without good precautive or security measures walk the streets. It doesn't take one day to pull off such attacks. It's something that has been planned for weeks after getting certain information about such figures. We can't always be too careful, but taking privacy very serious is most important..

[nemesis_incarnate]

Before bitcoin was created, there have been people that were kidnapped. This is happening in many countries. Kidnapping is not something new and fiat are used for making the transaction for the ransom. Most of the kidnappers will prefer cash which is untraceable. So should government-created fiat should not exist because of that?

To cut someone's head is not the solution to the person's headache.

I don't think so, but maybe OP has people who were targeted in such a way or had an experience where his opinion on it was formulated.

I still agree with your points, though.

[ABCbits]

The recent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie shows that all cryptocurrency should be made illegal worldwide until full KYC and AML protocols are enforced for all transactions.

Your wish is not realistic. Many cryptocurrency aren't that centralized, where it cannot force KYC/AML every time you make a transaction.

Out of all the 'wrench attacks', only a few ever failed
https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks?tab=readme-ov-file

Kidnappings have a 90% success rate.

That list also make this statement.

NOTE: this list is not comprehensive; many attacks are not publicly reported. If you are aware of an attack that is not listed, please open an issue or pull request.

[FortuneFollower]

The recent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie shows that all cryptocurrency should be made illegal worldwide until full KYC and AML protocols are enforced for all transactions.

Your wish is not realistic. Many cryptocurrency aren't that centralized, where it cannot force KYC/AML every time you make a transaction.

Out of all the 'wrench attacks', only a few ever failed
https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks?tab=readme-ov-file

Kidnappings have a 90% success rate.

That list also make this statement.

NOTE: this list is not comprehensive; many attacks are not publicly reported. If you are aware of an attack that is not listed, please open an issue or pull request.

it's more of a cry for help than a wish.. or a cry of anger toward such situations occuring at all.

[Ruttoshi]

Stop spreading the FUD, bitcoin don't kidnap people but people do. I wish you could know the statistics of the illegal activities that fiat is used for daily, you will know that bitcoin isn't the problem here. Maybe, it's high time these rich bitcoin enthusiasts should walk around with securities as if they are carrying all the fiat in their bank account with them anywhere they go.

Bitcoin is money, when you show people you own some, you become a target. Stealing, killing, kidnapping are activities that cannot be stopped.

[PrivacyG]

So should Fiat then be illegal unless the Government knows who owns every single dollar and where it goes.

Know Your Customer is not the solution.  The solution is that people stop being this dumb.  The only thing they need is to avoid bragging about how much Bitcoin they have in the same way they would probably not brag about a stack of Cash hidden on their property.  If no body knows you own it, no body will torture you for it.

[zasad@]

This kidnapping doesn't prove anything. Kidnappings have happened before. I understand that news outlets need PR and views, but why is everyone keeping quiet about other things?
Read up on kidnappings and SCAM centers in Myanmar. According to various sources, tens or even hundreds of thousands of people work there.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/02/02/executes-scam-center-gang-members/8271770023697/
These scammers try to gain your trust and recommend investing in fake crypto exchanges, as one of the scams, but cryptocurrency isn't to blame.

[nemesis_incarnate]

So should Fiat then be illegal unless the Government knows who owns every single dollar and where it goes.

Know Your Customer is not the solution.  The solution is that people stop being this dumb.  The only thing they need is to avoid bragging about how much Bitcoin they have in the same way they would probably not brag about a stack of Cash hidden on their property.  If no body knows you own it, no body will torture you for it.

Staying humble is the key to it.

Though some hack the person and get the info regarding the info through such means, one should definitely not tell in public or out loud how much he has..

[OmegaStarScream]

Maybe people should just stop being so vocal about their holdings...

But to be honest, I don't see how would that change much in 2026. Crypto is so widely used that you don't even need to kidnap someone holding crypto in order to ask for crypto as a ransom.

As for "AML/KYC  for all" then that's never going to happen. Truly decentralized coins do exist and they're not going anywhere. If self-custody gets banned (which is not realistic) do you believe that people won't find other way? Hackers use Binance and other CEXes as much (if not more) as you do. Fake or stolen IDs, pay someone from a poor country to verify accounts for them, etc.

[FortuneFollower]

Maybe people should just stop being so vocal about their holdings...

But to be honest, I don't see how would that change much in 2026. Crypto is so widely used that you don't even need to kidnap someone holding crypto in order to ask for crypto as a ransom.

As for "AML/KYC  for all" then that's never going to happen. Truly decentralized coins do exist and they're not going anywhere. If self-custody gets banned (which is not realistic) do you believe that people won't find other way? Hackers use Binance and other CEXes as much (if not more) as you do. Fake or stolen IDs, pay someone from a poor country to verify accounts for them, etc.

It's not realistic at all, and peeps would still get hurt, but just in other ways.. not just ransoms or something like that.

Government is not the entity we should cry our shoulders to the most to solve such a thing - first line of defense is ourselves.

[PrivacyG]

Staying humble is the key to it.

Though some hack the person and get the info regarding the info through such means, one should definitely not tell in public or out loud how much he has..

It could be as stupid, bad and simple as some people being the target of an attacker using the Ledger leaks.  As far as I remember, there was some pretty personal information leaked.

But after all.  All you need is to know the Email Address of a person, open a Tor or VPN connection and try to register on Binance, Coinbase et cetera.  If they have an account there, it may be enough.

And then here goes my effort to keep preaching the same advice over and over again while no body else cares.  Separate personal Email Address from the one used for Exchanges.  Deliver the Hardware Wallet to a Post Office Box.  Use a temporary phone number when placing the order.  Et cetera.  The less information you leave behind, the less possible that you will be attacked like this.

[Lock_Tightt]

Well I'm just waiting for someone to challenge me. Go ahead.

[Lock_Tightt]

Not backing down here. Not with retard AI, tesla deathcars, and Trump Nobel Prize for ending eight wars that are all still happening.

[henry_of_skalitz]

Well I'm just waiting for someone to challenge me. Go ahead.

There are lots of points already you can answer to, pal

[Don Pedro Dinero]

It's been a while since I've seen a funny troll around here. Not because of what he lays out, but because of the conclusion he draws. It seems like something straight out of a manual for snake oil salesmen, I mean populist politicians. In other words, I'm going to forbid you from doing something for your own good, and only when I have complete control will I allow you to do it again (hopefully).

[betswift]

It's been a while since I've seen a funny troll around here. Not because of what he lays out, but because of the conclusion he draws. It seems like something straight out of a manual for snake oil salesmen, I mean populist politicians. In other words, I'm going to forbid you from doing something for your own good, and only when I have complete control will I allow you to do it again (hopefully).

(Optional) 

[OcTradism]

The recent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie shows that all cryptocurrency should be made illegal worldwide until full KYC and AML protocols are enforced for all transactions.

If you are identifiable as a crypto holder and have dependents or loved ones, you are not just a financial target—you are a family target.

https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks?tab=readme-ov-file

Kidnappings have a 90% success rate.

How do the other people can know that you have cryptocurrency?

Let's be frankly with yourself, they only can know it if you live a noisy life, and you want to be famous on social media with your flex posts there or in your real physical life with luxurious stuffs or items with cryptocurrency related information or you hang out and tell other people about your investment or trading in cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin can not solve it, altcoins can not solve it, and governments can not control what you want to do. In other words, if you want fame, make noise, and destroy your privacy, no other entities from government to other people can protect you.