Crypto millionaires flaunting wealth become targets for criminals

Siragusa, known as Amouranth, earns around $2 million a month through content on OnlyFans and Twitch.

On the night of March 2, she was lying in bed when she heard noises outside. Moments later three armed men kicked in the front door and forced their way into her bedroom, demanding access to her digital assets.

Siragusa had previously boasted online about her crypto holdings, which were stored in a safety deposit box at a nearby bank. She told the intruders the access was in another building, then secretly alerted her husband Nick Lee, who was inside that unit.Anticipating the intruders might head his way, Lee armed himself and opened fire, forcing them to flee.

The couple has since added 24-hour security and two trained German Shepherds to protect their home. But Siragusa said she has no plans to stop showcasing her lifestyle.

"People associate items that are flex-worthy with clout and importance," she told the New York Post. "That is what makes them want to follow you and live vicariously through you. It’s hard to avoid if you want to stay relevant."

OnlyFans model Kaitlyn Siragusa. Photo from X

Her experience reflects a broader trend of rising attacks on cryptocurrency holders, especially those who display their wealth online.

In January David Balland, co-founder of French crypto storage firm Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped in central France. The kidnappers cut Balland’s finger and sent a photo to his colleagues, demanding ransom. The French police rescued the couple within 48 hours after a partial payment was made.

Similar cases have emerged in the U.S.

In Chicago, three family members and a nanny were abducted from a townhouse. The father received a message via Chinese app WeChat demanding $15 million in crypto for their release. He paid, and the victims were freed shortly after. Law enforcement later found the kidnappers, but $9 million remains unaccounted for.

Cryptocurrencies, being decentralized and harder to trace than traditional currencies, offer criminals an easier path to laundering funds. As a result, individuals who publicly flaunt their crypto wealth may be putting a target on their backs.

Such incidents have fueled demand for private protection services. Industry insiders say personal security has become the new status symbol among crypto elites.

Adam Healy, a former U.S. Marine and founder of security firm Station 70, said organized crime groups, including drug cartels, are increasingly targeting cryptocurrency holders as traditional revenue sources like drug and human trafficking face disruption at the border. He added that both cartel affiliates and the cartels themselves are likely to shift focus toward crypto-related crimes.

Bitcoin on U.S. dollar notes. Photo from Pexels

Steve Krystek, CEO of personal security firm PFC Safeguards, added: "Kidnappings of crypto investors are definitely on the rise. A lot of the people who come into this money are flashy, and they’re signaling that they have wealth."

Crypto trader AdioKing said the dangers come with the territory. "People talk about crypto and think it’s cool to be your own bank. But if you screw up, you lose everything."

Pierce, a prominent crypto figure who has spent years in the public eye, cautioned those seeking attention in the digital-cash world. "Bragging about your wealth doesn’t do anything for you. In this day and age, anonymity is the ultimate luxury."