Bali Police Hunt Gang After Russian Crypto Kidnapping

Police are investigating several suspects and reviewing CCTV footage and phone records. The case also reflects a broader rise in physical attacks on crypto holders, including in Europe.

Key Takeaways

• A Russian man was kidnapped in Bali and held for nearly 30 hours until he gave access to his crypto account.
• The attackers blocked his motorbike, handcuffed him, beat him, and took his phone, then tried to get a linked device through his villa.
• The case fits into a global rise in physical attacks on crypto holders, where criminals use violence to force access to wallets and accounts.

A Russian man was kidnapped in Bali and kept for nearly 30 hours before he gave access to his crypto account, according to local police. The case is part of a wider pattern of physical attacks on crypto holders, where criminals rely on violence rather than hacking to get into wallets and accounts.

Kidnapping in Pecatu

The victim, identified only by the initials AI, was stopped in Pecatu in South Kuta at around 9:35 p.m. on July 2. Two masked men used a black Nissan Serena to block his motorbike as he was leaving a restaurant.

The attackers then handcuffed him with plastic restraints, covered his head, and took him to a two-story building. Police said he was beaten and kicked there for about 30 hours until he surrendered his password. They also took his Xiaomi phone.

Leads and Investigation

After getting the keys to his villa, the suspects reportedly went inside to retrieve a second device connected to his wallet. The victim was later taken to Udayana University Hospital on July 4, where he sought emergency treatment. Bali Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Ariasandy said investigators are now checking CCTV footage and phone records from several locations.

More Pressure on Crypto Holders

This was not an isolated incident. In 2025, physical attacks on crypto holders around the world rose 75 percent, with 72 confirmed cases and $41 million (€35.9 million) in losses. From January through April 2026, Europe made up 82 percent of recorded wrench attacks, up from 39.5 percent in 2025. France has emerged as a major hotspot, in part because of a series of kidnappings tied to leaked KYC data.

For European crypto investors, the case is a reminder that security is not only about digital defenses. Access to devices, recovery data, and personal information can also become a direct threat, especially when criminals already know where a victim is exposed. That matches the broader trend of attackers targeting weak points in key management and operational security, as also shown by research on private keys.