A group of seven Russians is accused of robbing a crypto blogger of $42,000 in cryptocurrency, along with cash and luxury watches, in a violent home invasion. Prosecutors say the suspects could face up to 15 years in prison for the organized crime. The incident highlights a rising trend of attacks on cryptocurrency holders in Russia.
On July 9, 2025, two women posing as delivery couriers arrived at the apartment of a Russian blogger. When he opened the door, five men pushed their way inside, assaulted him, and tied his hands, according to prosecutors. The group threatened further violence unless he provided passwords to his mobile phone and apps, including access to his cryptocurrency wallet.
The suspects then drained the wallet, transferring $42,000 worth of crypto to an unidentified address. Prosecutors did not specify the type of cryptocurrency involved. In addition to the digital assets, the gang stole two luxury watches valued at $26,000, $4,000 in cash, and other items totaling $33,000 in value.
The seven suspects—five men from Zhigulevsk, a town 300 kilometers south of Kazan, and two women from Kazan—will face charges of “an organized robbery on an especially large scale.” They allegedly acted on instructions from an unidentified mastermind, prosecutors stated.
This case comes amid increasing attacks on crypto holders in Russia. In November, a court in Ryazan sentenced two men to more than eight years each in maximum-security colonies for stealing $171,000 in coins from another blogger at knifepoint. Such incidents underscore the growing risks for cryptocurrency owners worldwide, though prosecutors emphasized the organized nature of this robbery.
