Binance has issued an unprecedented physical threat alert, warning crypto holders that rising asset values are now putting their personal safety at risk.
With bitcoin climbing and global adoption surging, Binance’s Physical Security team is sounding the alarm: attackers are shifting from hacking wallets to targeting people. On May 27, the world’s largest crypto exchange published a safety advisory outlining a sharp increase in physical threats—including kidnappings and robberies—tied to digital asset ownership. While still rare on a global scale, Binance reports that crypto-linked attacks have spiked dramatically in 2025.
“The stronger the digital walls, the more criminals look for cracks in the real world,” Binance stated in its report. Data shows only one publicly recorded incident in 2019. Fast forward to 2025, and 15 cases of crypto-related kidnappings have been reported in just five months. The exchange stresses that although this is a small figure compared to global crime rates, the trend is concerning and demands proactive defense measures.
Binance laid out a five-step action plan to mitigate the growing threat:
- Stay Discreet – Avoid publicizing crypto holdings, posting wallet screenshots, or flaunting transactions. Use pseudonyms for blockchain activities.
- Control Your Digital Footprint – Lock down social media accounts, scrub geolocation data, and delay sharing travel details until after returning home.
- Break the Blockchain Trail – Use privacy-focused wallets, rotate public addresses, and prevent any linkage to your real identity.
- Be Aware and Unpredictable – Vary your travel patterns, maintain a low profile at events, and assess the security of your residence or workplace regularly.
- Have an Emergency Plan – Set protocols with trusted contacts, utilize multi-signature wallets, and be prepared to contact authorities if danger arises.
“Criminals aren’t just hunting wallets—they’re watching behaviors, tracking posts, and waiting for moments of carelessness,” the report warns. The crypto community is being urged to adopt the same vigilance offline that they would online.
This marks a critical shift in the industry’s focus from solely digital security to comprehensive personal safety. Binance’s full safety advisory can be read here.