WonderFi Leader Found Safe After Toronto Kidnapping Incident
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Dean Skurka, the head of Canada’s biggest crypto company, WonderFi, has been found safe after being kidnapped in Toronto on Wednesday. He was taken during rush hour in downtown Toronto by a group of criminals, according to reports.
Skurka was held until he paid a ransom of 1 million Canadian dollars (USD$720,660). After the payment was sent electronically, he was released to a park outside the city.
WonderFi Assures Employee And Client Safety
Skurka revealed in his email that keeping WonderFi’s employees safe is very important. He said that the clients’ money and information were still safe and were not damaged.
The Toronto Police are currently looking into the kidnapping case, but no one has been arrested yet. This kidnapping happened on the same day WonderFi shared a report about its business, showing that the company has grown a lot in the past year. The police have not found any suspects in the case so far.
WonderFi’s earnings report shows a revenue increase of over 150% from last year, which highlights the company’s fast growth. The report was released at a time when Bitcoin reached a new record high of $76,000. This sharp rise in Bitcoin value brought extra attention to the digital currency market, especially after Donald Trump’s re-election announcement.
Criminals Target Crypto Executives
WonderFi is the largest regulated platform for cryptocurrency trading in Canada. It owns well-known brands such as Tetra, SmartPay, Coinsquare, and BitBuy. These brands allow people in Canada to trade and use digital currencies safely. This event brings attention to the risks faced by people working in the crypto industry.
This kidnapping points to a troubling trend where criminals target people in the crypto industry, hoping for fast, untraceable payments. With the value of digital assets rising, these criminals are focusing more on crypto holders and executives.
Not long ago, a similar crypto kidnapping happened in Thailand. Six police officers and one other person were arrested in Bangkok for forcing a Chinese man to pay 5.7 million baht, which is around $166,710.
Security expert Jameson Lopp said this is the 171st case where criminals used violence to steal crypto from someone. According to CBC, Lopp noted that these incidents continue as Bitcoin and other digital assets grow more valuable.
In July, another serious case happened in Kyiv, Ukraine. Four men were arrested for kidnapping and murdering a 29-year-old foreigner to take three Bitcoins from his wallet, worth about $200,000 at the time.
WonderFi’s kidnapping case shows that people in the crypto business face high risks. Experts warn that as long as digital assets remain valuable, there may be more crimes targeting crypto holders. Toronto Police continue to investigate Skurka’s case with hopes of finding those responsible soon.
