A UK-based cryptocurrency broker reportedly jumped 30 feet from a balcony to escape a violent kidnapping attempt in Spain, where captors threatened to torture and kill him if he refused to hand over his clients’ funds.
According to a 9 February 2025 report by UK media outlet Metro, the broker was lured to an apartment in Estepona, a town near Marbella, after accepting an invitation for drinks.
Upon arrival, three British men allegedly held him hostage, demanding he transfer €30,000 ($30,917) from his customers’ accounts or face brutal consequences.
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Kidnapped Crypto Broker Secretly Calls Friend in London to Alert Authorities
In a desperate attempt to alert authorities, the victim pretended to call a customer for access codes but instead contacted a friend in London. The friend quickly informed the broker’s mother, who then alerted local Spanish police.
Law enforcement soon traced the apartment’s location and moved in to rescue him.
As the kidnappers were distracted by the police’s arrival, the broker attempted a daring escape, jumping from the third-floor balcony. He suffered two broken ankles from the fall and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
Spanish police later released a February 8 statement confirming the incident, stating that officers witnessed the victim trying to climb down the balcony before falling.
Liberamos en apenas 7⃣ horas a un hombre secuestrado en #Marbella
3 personas detenidas e ingresadas en prisiĂłn provisional
— PolicĂa Nacional (@policia) February 8, 2025
A subsequent search of the apartment uncovered two firearms, three knives, €10,000 ($10,305) in cash, a money counter, and 25 grams of pink cocaine.
The three suspects were arrested and charged with kidnapping, wounding, belonging to a criminal organization, illegal possession of weapons, and drug trafficking. Following a court appearance, they were remanded to prison pending further legal proceedings.
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Surge in Crypto-Related Attacks
The incident is part of a growing trend of in-person crypto-related kidnappings and robberies worldwide. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has previously reported a surge in such crimes, particularly in Western Europe, where criminals target crypto holders for their digital assets.
Crypto security expert Jameson Lopp, co-founder of self-custodial firm Casa, maintains a GitHub list tracking physical crypto thefts dating back to 2014. One of the earliest cases involved an alleged extortion attempt against cryptographer Hal Finney for 1,000 Bitcoin, then worth $400,000.
The rise in these attacks highlights the growing risks associated with cryptocurrency holdings. So far in 2025, at least nine crypto-related physical thefts have been recorded, with 28 incidents in 2024, 17 in 2023, and 32 in 2021, according to Lopp’s database.
In another recent case, a couple in Brazil was forced at gunpoint to transfer $16,000 in cryptocurrency to criminals who had broken into their home.
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