Canadian man in hiding after claims of Bitcoin-related kidnapping attempts

An unnamed Canadian crypto forum moderator was reportedly forced into hiding with his family after an alleged kidnapping attempt where criminals attempted to steal his Bitcoin.

According to local press, the man has been forced to move his family from one Airbnb to another because the police apparently cannot guarantee their safety.

Criminals with the intention of torturing the victim

Speaking about the attempted kidnapping, the father of four told the Quebec newspaper La Presse that his would-be kidnappers had prepared to inflict violence on him and his children to achieve their goal. He said they had torture equipment and that he probably intended to cut one of his members with a two-foot-by-two-foot tarp with a hole in the middle and claws around it.

The victim’s ordeal began on November 4, 2024, when two masked men threatened him outside his home, but he managed to lock his door before they could enter. On November 8, he claimed to have seen a black car with no license plate parked near his home, prompting him to contact the police.

A few days later, the man said he was behind the same strange vehicle on a main road before it suddenly swerved and brought him to a stop. One of the occupants of the car allegedly pulled a gun on the unidentified individual, forcing him to use pepper spray to defend himself.

Following investigations, police arrested four suspects, and two of them went on trial in November 2024, charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and possession of illegal firearms. Having no criminal record, the alleged attackers were released on bail and confined under house arrest until March 2025, when the trial was scheduled to begin.

The move left the crypto enthusiast living in fear as he suspected his attackers might have ties to organized crime, forcing him to find temporary accommodation in different locations.

According to the police, the culprits targeted the victim, believing he possessed 2.5 million BTC after being tricked by posts on a Facebook page he had been moderating for the past few years. However, the man claims that his Bitcoin holdings can only be worth $10,000 at most.

Growing threats

According to Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp, there have been over 100 physical attacks on BTC holders in recent years. In October 2024, the crypto-security expert released an archive chronicling several violent encounters digital asset owners had faced, including stabbings in New York City and kidnappings in Lithuania and Turkey.

This latest case indicates an increase in crypto-related kidnappings, especially in Canada. In November last year, Dean Skurka, CEO of prominent crypto firm WonderFi, was kidnapped in Toronto and forced to pay $720,000 to secure his release.

The same month, Montreal police discovered the body of crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi, who had been kidnapped earlier this year along with three others. Mirshahi had been accused of promoting a bomb-and-dump scheme involving a cryptocurrency called Marsan (MRS), whose value plummeted by more than 90%, causing untold losses to thousands of investors.

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