You can get killed for holding Bitcoin, take your privacy 🔏 very serious

[OcTradism]

I have already heard about this kind of news before where telegram accused the France tax officials of leaking users information to scammers and kidnappers of people that are holding millions in cryptocurrency and their location.

Data leaks, tax information leaks are very possible and we never know what the other people do. They can be tax officers, governmental staffs at other agencies and positions, or from centralized exchanges for example, and they can do either right or wrong things.

We only know that KYC is dangerous and useless.

We need to be very careful about how we brag about Bitcoin since their could be people that are ready to do anything to make money and they can link kidnappers that can do harm to us if they are unable to get what they want. Their are so many stories about people being killed due to their Bitcoin holdings. It is our duty to keep and protect ourselves from people from knowing if we have Bitcoin or not.

We have to know that privacy matters for our lives, not only for privacy but for our own safety. Losing privacy will possible result in physical attack risk which none of us want to face with.

Bitcoin privacy resources.
Bitcoin privacy guides.
Stop the FCC's KYC regime.

[bitLeap]

Looking at the economic situation in my country, I am also more careful about asset ownership. There are a lot of things that could happen to us and I agree with that. Even without online information, because revealing ownership of bitcoin assets offline unintentionally in front of people also triggers crimes. As you talk financial investments in front of neighbors, people nearby are also potentially similar things. So ownership data is not always disclosed online, but offline information is a greater chance of risk. The point is that we must be able to limit sensitive information.

[Bitcoin.com97]

Privacy is important these days but people don't listen, people are so lousy,and would want everyone to know what they have earned or accumulate, I heard about a girl who was killed and her killers made a way with her money , probably she has shown the world and people around her how much was able to accumulate, the world is not safe anymore and people need to be extremely careful,all this public display of wealth is not even worth it ,but many won't learn at all, they just want to been known,they want to fluent wealth and their source which is causing them the problems they are into these days .

[TastyChillySauce00]

People should be more conscious in my opinion, don't flaunt money easily and even if you do, make sure you are anonymous, but always best not to flaunt it at all. There are a lot of people who are desperate with money willing to thread into the dark path and they target the closest one they could go after which is people who flaunt their money because they knew the money is in the victim's hand.

These wrench attacks are very serious, and so far 72 recorded case in 2025, and 52 in just first half of this year, it spiked dramatically and mostly happened in france. The unrecorded case will be higher than that numbers. It's a real threat and any crypto holder should put attention into it, don't be the next victim.

[macson]

I think that's the risk when you have such a large asset: some people will be after your wealth and might even get rid of you just to get your money. The man simply believed the killer was a trusted business associate and didn't suspect anything when he entered his home. But he didn't expect that to be the end of everything. I think he was unlucky to meet such a tragic fate. If he had been more careful about who he trusted and who he allowed into his home, perhaps things could have turned out very differently.

[jcojci]

People thinks about convenience having Bitcoin so they let exchanges keep their Bitcoin. They don't want to do more that can confusing them and choose the easy way. But the easy way sometimes can't protect their Bitcoin when the hacker penetrate to the site or scams them.

We must protect Bitcoin by ourselves and not let third parties do it, many people lost Bitcoin because of scam or hack and that is because an easy and simple things that they actually can do it.

We must keep quiet and not telling others that we have Bitcoin, that is prevention we must do to keep our Bitcoin safe.

[Nothingtodo]

This is not new news, but it is like the old news. If Bitcoin holders open up about their Bitcoin holdings in public places, then of course that holder can be in danger at any time. Now people can target him while walking on the street and target him and snatch his Bitcoin wallet or forcibly take access to his Bitcoin wallet.
Therefore, to protect your privacy, you must keep your Bitcoin holdings secret and always maintain caution in an environment where bad people are more likely to come and go.

[Outhue]

Whether Bitcoin or fiat, people are always after wealth. Some chase wealth fairly while others do underhanded tactics and even commiting crimes.  For perpetrators and criminals, they don't find any difference between Bitcoin and fiat currency, as long as they got an information about someone having huge amounts of money, they will target such people.

This is the reason why no one should flaunt their wealth and let other people know because not everyone have pure heart.  Others are so wicked that they will do everything to rob that person's wealth.

Let's not compare BITCOIN Heist to Fiat Heist, large amount of money isn't for home keep, that's why we have banks, if criminals want to hunt down large amount of fiat they need to go for a bank heist, atleast your family will be saved unlike the victim whose all family members are killed leaving a boy behind.

Bitcoin, even if it is 1 million dollars will always be kept at home, we don't know what we are joking with here, wrench attack will become so popular in the future that many won't even trust their own family members, erase the idea of talking about crypto, pretend as if you quit crypto already because been a target is not always a coincidence, it's a planned work.

[Brizi5000]

Some persons, because they want to prove to people that they’ve made it in life is the reason why they can’t keep their winning to themselves. Many people have died as a result of this action, some can’t even move in silence they will tell everybody their moves, they got attacked even before their success arrived . If you check very well most of them are living fake life, they don’t even have most of the things they claim to have but social media pressure have made them to do so because they want to belong. Privacy is the weapon bitcoin has given to us and people forget that bitcoin was created to give privacy to peoples financial lives unlike other financial banking. We as investors ought to take our privacy seriously because the moment our privacy is broken then both our assets and life is at a doom.

[TedMosby]

[...]
I don't need to live a privacy live as a bitcoin holder, bitcoin is more popular today and every knows about it.
Why hide?

A typical dumb mindset of many people today who don't even understand why Bitcoin choose decentralisation in the first place.
Here is why you should be serious with decentralisation and privacy.
[...]

If that becomes a problem, doesn't that mean it's the disadvantage of holding Bitcoin? Privacy is important, but if that makes you worry, overthink all the time, scared of everything related to your coins, then maybe Bitcoin is not for you. We saw many posts of people flexing on social media, it's just like a casual everyday post you don't think of. But once it's about flexing BTC, it starts raising fears that people can be this and that. I mean, privacy is important, we need to protect it, doesn't need to hide, just don't share any important private info. But maybe we need to think again, just because someone posted "I own 1 BTC", does it automatically make them a target of bad people? Just because you pay in BTC at an offline shop, do you automatically become a target of bad people, like they think, "look, this person has BTC, let's raid him". If that happens, BTC would never fit for offline transactions, to replace any medium of exchange that exists now.

For me, it's like you tried avoiding a gay guy just because you are a man and are scared that gay guy would be interested in you. I am not gay, but I think gay people are also selective and have their own type.

Also BTW, I store my BTC in decentralized wallets and CEXs. On CEXs, I already leave it there for ~10 years. Two of them were hacked a few years ago, but the CEX is still running and can resolve the problem. So far and hopefully it's okay. As the comparison, and you already know it, some ColdCard Wallet users lost their BTC. So in this case, based on this experience, my BTC at CEX is safer than in a Decentralized Wallet. For me, all this thing is just about survivorship bias. CMIIW.

[GeorgeJohn]

We need to be very careful about how we brag about Bitcoin since their could be people that are ready to do anything to make money and they can link kidnappers that can do harm to us if they are unable to get what they want.

Already what you said is existing, now people can be use Bitcoin to purchase a luxury cars and houses, kidnappers will be more interested to hold bitcoin holders captive, because it's easier to send bitcoin out from a wallet....

If we invest and keep it in secrets, nobody will know how much we worth in bitcoin..But some holders do like to showcase what they have in social media which is absolutely wrong....Most of the people who is having unique issues from the bitcoin they hold, it's through social media they notice that is particular individual is holding a reasonable amount bitcoin

If holders of bitcoin keep themselves off from social media, nobody will know that they're holding enough enough bitcoin talk more leaking their information to kidnappers.

[HajiBagi]

Keep quiet about your bitcoin, keep quiet about your wealth, don't be lousy, don't be the show-up type, but privacy is not truly protected in this time and age of the world. Appearing at a blockchain-related conference wearing a limited-edition Breguet Marie Antoinette wristwatch tells the audience how financially loaded you are, and they suddenly suspect you hold millions in bitcoin/crypto.

Wrench attacks are becoming more famous these days. You can also be quiet about your holdings. Let your tax report sell you off to your targets. Good thing they have caught two suspects linked to the incidents, one of is said to be the victim's business associates. Stay vigilant and stay guided. The world is a cruel place.

Life has changed, and some individuals need to understand that we live in world where anyone can do anything to get what they want. Some individuals can not keep quiet when they are holding bitcoin, they will let people to know that they are holding bitcoin, some people will use it to mocked their friends to see their reactions, and not knowing that they are exposing themselves to the public, one thing we should know is that people do not joke about something valuable, especially like money or something that has the potential to change their lives. I believe those who were killed were most likely planned by someone who is very close to them, which is why you should never trust anyone.

[Donk1]

Well it's easy to just say we should be careful, but many people find it difficult to be reasonable and responsible. As a crypto enthusiast there are stuff you shouldn't say on no account. There isn't any good thing in trying to intimidate others by telling them about your holdings. That's why, up and till now, I am still against the fact of introducing strangers to Bitcoin because people can't be trusted. Not everyone sees opportunity as something to take serious some see it as a way to exploit others' trust and kindness. We have to practice being a grey man, because our security, and doesn't matter if you lost your life along the way, it would be all for nothing. And perhaps my best bet is that not many understand what Bitcoin fundamentals principles and what they as users stands for, in being an enthusiast that's all.......

[m2017]

Why do I have to worry myself using peer to peer for my Bitcoin transaction?
People are even storing their Bitcoin on Binance and Coinbase and they always have access to it.

I don't need to live a privacy live as a bitcoin holder, bitcoin is more popular today and every knows about it.
Why hide?

A typical dumb mindset of many people today who don't even understand why Bitcoin choose decentralisation in the first place.
Here is why you should be serious with decentralisation and privacy.

Add this: "I’m not a criminal, after all, so I have nothing to hide. Privacy and confidentiality are only needed by criminals only".

The regulator’s media propaganda is doing its dirty work.
 

Every data leaks in the hands of centralised entities are a huge risk to your live.

Therefore, KYC is an EVIL imposed upon us.

Getting killed for your Bitcoin has nothing to do with you been a very good person.

Even if this bitcoins isn't worth millions, but merely a few thousand (or even just a few hundred) dollars.

Just because you don't talk evil about others and you don't do evil to others doesn't mean there are no evil people who do it for a living, they watch while you get too comfortable, every words, every information you shared online, every crypto conversation you had with people in public place, your neighbour etc..  someone might be watching.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a case of "evil people whose profession is doing evil". Crimes are committed by the very same kinds of people who surround you, meaning any one of them could pose a potential threat. It is foolish to find yourself in a bad situation simply because of a few words spoken (or actions taken) casually. Therefore, you should approach information security as if there is a "potential threat" all around you - one that could come from anyone.

It is better to be overly paranoid than a victim.

Practice OPsec and keep quiet 🤐 🤐 🤐 🤐 about your Bitcoin.

On this forum, which the whole world can read, one can sometimes see threads featuring polls and discussions about who holds how much bitcoins.

[Patikno]

Every data leaks in the hands of centralised entities are a huge risk to your live.
Getting killed for your Bitcoin has nothing to do with you been a very good person.

Just because you don't talk evil about others and you don't do evil to others doesn't mean there are no evil people who do it for a living, they watch while you get too comfortable, every words, every information you shared online, every crypto conversation you had with people in public place, your neighbour etc..  someone might be watching.

Practice OPsec and keep quiet 🤐 🤐 🤐 🤐 about your Bitcoin.

Fundamentally, criminals do not care about anyone; their sole objective is making a quick buck through illicit means. Being the kindest person in the world offers no guarantee that you won't be targeted by wrongdoers. The bottom line is that simply being a good person provides no assurance of your safety or security. Therefore, avoid being naive by disclosing all your personal information to just anyone, especially details regarding the Bitcoin you own.

Safeguarding your privacy, which is essentially a private matter that others have no need to know about; is of the utmost importance. Incidents involving cryptocurrency, or Bitcoin holders usually stem from a breach of their private information.

There was even a case in my country involving a robbery and kidnapping specifically because the victim owned crypto assets. Surprisingly, the robbers targeted the individual with the express intent of stealing their cryptocurrency. Doesn't that imply a leak of personal data or private information ? I suspect that was indeed the case. If you are curious, look up the case of Artem Ivanov on Google; it is a recent incident.

[Kelward]

Every crypto holders that are not taking this information and advice seriously are putting themselves in harm's way because from authentic reports that are shared globally it is clear that it is bad idea to flaunt your crypto worth in the public, you should even be careful about those that are close to you. Many criminals believe that cryptocurrency transactions on none custodial wallets are not traceable like bank accounts and exchanges which requires your KYC requirements, this must be one of the major reasons why attacks on crypto holders is on the increase. Let us not take chances so that we won't make headlines for the wrong thing, these wrench attacks can lead to death so it is not something to take lightly.

[YellowSwap]

The earlier people realise that they are doing it all wrong the better, going on Binance exchange to pass KYC, doing the same on Mexc and Bybit, we aren't helping ourselves.

Once your data leaked on a crypto exchange, it said one thing and one thing only, you are probably holding some stach amount of Bitcoin or crypto somewhere and the only way to get it from you is torture.

Money is why many people are desperate, they would do anything to get your money, by scam or by force, heaven blessed you for investing in Bitcoin very early, it's not on heaven to always keep you safe if you own mouth can't be kept shut.

[As-Soon-As]

Almost everyone in the world knows about Bitcoin, but I like the privacy about it a lot. If you don't like Bitcoin privacy then you will be in a lot of risk, because people around you can harm you. That's why holding Bitcoin privately or secretly is very important, it reveals a lot of security in the future.
I hold Bitcoin, only a few people know about it, which is limited to my family. So of course everyone should take this information seriously, the more safely you can store your Bitcoin, the more securely you can maintain your Bitcoin investment in the future.

[Mpamaegbu]

Just because you don't talk evil about others and you don't do evil to others doesn't mean there are no evil people who do it for a living...

Apt! That's why it's often said, "every man for himself". Yet some people don't like living by that principle. We're our own nemesis, so to say and as such we've to protect our flanks despite how harmless we believe we're to others. I find it a stupid act when I see those in this industry boasting of what their wallets have. Yes, I know some of them use it as a showoff to attract followers and increase their subscriber base on social media to gain monetary gains but they should equally know that there's just a thin line between wisdom and stupidity.

...every information you shared online, every crypto conversation you had with people in public place, your neighbour etc..  someone might be watching.

You omitted close friends. Most times, the so called close friends are even the ones to snitch and expose whatever you've shared or told them in confidence. As it's said in my local parlance, only those close to you can *kill* you.

[Zlantann]

The family is somehow popular. One of the victims, who is the father of the house, is a keyboardist and also a co-founder of Mexican rock band Camilo Séptimo, according to reports, and the relationship he has with one of the suspects who was arrested was that he operates real estate business and rental with the said suspect, which such connections could have given the suspect the privilege to know about some of the family private life.

This links have more details of the report:
The case that shocked Mexico: The investigation into the murders of Jonathan Meléndez and his family

The story in the link did not mention Bitcoin, and there were no reports that he stole any crypto from the attack. This is terrible news, as the suspect Diego Sebastián Rosen Ferlini was alleged to have killed Jonathan Meléndez, his wife, daughter, and even their dog. The crime might be the result of a business deal, debt, or other financial transaction.

That being said, I am a diehard supporter of privacy. Centralised platforms like exchanges and conventional banks could give out users' data. These are the lapses Bitcoin came to solve. Live a modest life, keep your mouth shut, and do all you can to use decentralised platforms.