Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin Security Startup Glok to Address Rising Kidnapping Threats With Bitcoin’s price exceeding $100,000, cryptocurrency holders face growing security risks — primarily being kidnapped or held for ransom. Alena Vranova, co-founder of SatoshiLabs and Trezor, has launched Glok, a company offering training and technology to protect Bitcoiners from these physical threats. Rising Kidnapping Risks In the first six months of 2025, kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders surpassed the total for all of 2024, according to data Glok shared with Bitcoin Magazine. Criminals have shifted from digital ransomware to physical “wrench attacks,” coercing victims to surrender wallet credentials. A notable case involved a 28-year-old Italian tourist tortured for weeks in a Manhattan apartment in May 2025, allegedly by a crypto trader attempting to extort his bitcoin. “The stakes are no longer just about reputation, data, and money; physical violence is becoming more prevalent,” Vranova states in Glok’s announcement. She notes that “any amount, even less than 0.5 BTC, can put you at risk,” referencing cases where individuals were targeted for as little as $50,000, equivalent to under 0.5 BTC today. “Approximately 18 million crypto owner identities, including 2.2 million with home addresses, are circulating on the darknet, largely due to data leaks from exchanges like Gemini and Coinbase. With an estimated 700 million to 1 billion crypto owners globally, 70-80% having undergone KYC,” Vranova told Bitcoin Magazine.When reported incidents of crypto-related kidnappings are sorted by country and adjusted by population, the most dangerous countries are Hong Kong and the UAE, with 0.120 and 0.091 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively — again, according to data shared with Bitcoin Magazine, data that Vranova emphasized is most likely underreported. Who’s at Risk? Exchange users are particularly vulnerable due to data leaks at exchanges that have KYC’d their customers. Businessmen, journalists, podcasters and developers who discuss Bitcoin publicly also face risks, as do enthusiasts who have shared their interest with others. “Assumed crypto wealth may be larger than actual, but criminals will not care,” Vranova explains. Family members are often targeted as attack vectors, a risk many overlook. Many Bitcoiners lack the protective habits of traditional wealthy families. “A Bitcoiner overestimates technology and underestimates the human factor,” Vranova added, noting that this mindset leaves them unprepared for physical security threats, often leading to panic in high-stress situations. Glok’s Services and Roadmap Glok, launched in 2025, provides training to enhance physical security, and is developing software and hardware products to round out the security offering. Today, its main offering is the Counter-Kidnapping Training as well as a free checklist to review your risk facto in a formal or creative style for better SEO.Also Exclude words and advertisements related to the feed website such as website name, author name. You must only respond with the modified content. Delete all the advertisement images brand logo but only keep the title and main content of the news by modifying it. Block any jump outside of the site adarshnews.com. 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Security company Glok, focused on Bitcoin, aims to tackle the increasing threats of kidnappings.
