After getting the crypto, the attackers strangled the man. They buried his body in a forest.
The police say the suspects tried to cover their tracks. They changed the car's appearance and plates.
The gang converted the stolen Bitcoin to cash. They were nabbed with stacks of dollars and euros.
Kyiv prosecutors are going for the jugular. They're looking at charges including murder, robbery, and kidnapping by an organized group. The suspects could face life in prison. There is no death penalty in Ukraine, just in case you wondered, as they could be the type of criminals deserving it.
This isn't the first time crypto has been linked to grisly crimes. In 2022, a crypto millionaire was found chopped up in a suitcase in Argentina. Another poor soul was beaten to death with a dumbbell in Bulgaria.
Bitcoin cypherpunk Jameson Lopp warns that criminals often scout victims through social media and crypto events. He advises against flaunting wealth online or wearing crypto-branded gear. "Keep a low profile," he says. "It's that simple."
Alexey Bondarev is the Head of Content at Yellow.com, having reported on crypto for the last 10 years. He specializes in in-depth Research and Learn pieces, with a focus on analytical reporting, industry context, and the bigger forces shaping crypto, from the AI era and security technologies to fintech innovation. He believes that everything digital will imminently overcome everything analogue and is working hard to make that come true.
