The case of the missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has taken a new turn as a mysterious activity has been detected in a Bitcoin wallet linked to the alleged ransom demand. It marks the first sign of movement connected to the ransom note since the case began on January 31, 2026, when Guthrie went missing from
The post Mysterious Activity Detected in Bitcoin Address Linked To Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note appeared first on CoinGape.
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- Dean Skurka is the president and CEO of WonderFi, a Canadian crypto company
- Skurka was forced into a vehicle in downtown Toronto during rush hour
- He said that client funds and data remain safe and weren’t impacted by the kidnapping
The kidnapped CEO of Canadian cryptocurrency company WonderFi has returned safely after electronically transferring CAD$1 million ($720,000) to his captors.
On Wednesday, at around 6 p.m. during rush hour, Dean Skurka, the president and CEO of WonderFi, was forced into a vehicle in the area of University Avenue and Richmond Street W. in downtown Toronto, reports CBC.
Skurka was ordered to pay the ransom demand of CAD$1 million. He was later released in Centennial Park in Etobicoke, according to a source close to the investigation. Speaking about the kidnapping, Skurka said:
“The safety and security of all of WonderFi’s employees are paramount. Client funds and data remain safe, and were not impacted by this incident.”
According to Jameson Lopp, co-founder and chief security officer of Casa, a security firm focused on protecting crypto users, Skurka’s kidnapping is the 171st case where violence has been used to target crypto holders.
Lopp said:
“As the [Bitcoin] price goes up, more awareness of the space permeates throughout society and as a result, more criminally minded people decide they want to try to figure out what the ROI of executing a physical attack against a known crypto holder is.”
The kidnapping comes at a time when Bitcoin is going through a price rise.
Yesterday, Bitcoin achieved a new all-time high of $76,677 on major crypto exchanges. The new price came amid the US Federal Reserve announcing a 25 basis points interest rate cut.
Earlier in the week, Bitcoin broke a new all-time high of $75,317 as voting results signalled a Donald Trump win for the White House.
Healthcare company Cencora is facing backlash from the crypto community following a $75 million cyber ransom payment in Bitcoin. On-chain analyst revealed the exact BTC transactions in three installments in March. Crypto users advocate tracking hackers and providing more information following the incident.
Crypto Users Criticize Cencora Over Non-Disclosure
Following a Bloomberg report that hackers involved in Cencora cyber attacks received $75 million worth of Bitcoin, crypto users have raised eyebrows on certain issues about the incident. According to the report, the drug distributor disclosed the cyber hack which saw information stolen from its systems.
Subsequently, sources familiar with the matter claimed that the ransom payment to the bad actors amounted to $75 million worth of Bitcoin. The fee which was reduced from an initial $150 million demand was paid in three installments in March with affected individuals notified in May. On-chain investigator ZackXBT threw more lights on the Cencora incident on X (formerly Twitter) after the initial report.
I think it’s a bad look when a large publicly traded company like Cencora does not share the BTC transactions for the $75M payment to Dark Angels ransomeware group so I will just post it for them.
296.5 BTC – Mar 7, 2024 at 10:04 pm UTC… https://t.co/24n3J2ubSh pic.twitter.com/aXEx3kHVxz
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) September 18, 2024
He flagged the company’s non-disclosure of the exact Bitcoin transaction to the Dark Angel ransomware group before revealing the information. Per his findings, the wallets were funded from the same source to accounts with high illicit fund exposure.
“296.5 BTC – Mar 7, 2024 at 10:04 pm UTC e3e203db2752edeb5bb716a77ed30f977bee70b06cefecd69d1c38921ad5d1b2
408 BTC – Mar 8, 2024 at 7:45 pm UTC db4a0742aa2fe67c20f02642bb776fb4140cf32beca43b7552435f5eddb58d92
387 BTC – Mar 8, 2024 at 9:39 pm UTC bf408baa4d6598a42a6852012fe412514ff7bb70ca8a94deb9865c9b46f19ddf”
Wider Community Suggests More Investigation
After the revelation of the transfers, crypto users suggested tracing the wallets to find the bad actors and recover the assets. This is due to the public nature of blockchain, however, ransomware groups deploy sophisticated laundering processes. Others claimed the Cencora would have spent $75 million on better security to prevent the incident.
Although the Cencora incident wasn’t a crypto platform scam, several global authorities have flagged crypto being used as a means to move fraudulent payments. Recently, the CFTC announced a partnership to tackle crypto scams and associated matters.
David Pokima
David is a finance news contributor with 4 years of experience in Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrencies. He is interested in learning about emerging technologies and has an eye for breaking news. Staying updated with trends, David reported in several niches including regulation, partnerships, crypto assets, stocks, NFTs, etc. Away from the financial markets, David goes cycling and horse riding.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
The Grand Palais in Paris, a prominent venue for the 2024 Summer Olympics, has become the latest victim of a high-profile cyberattack. Hackers infiltrated the venue’s digital infrastructure, demanding a significant ransom in cryptocurrency. This incident not only underscores the persistent cybersecurity threats but also highlights the increasing use of cryptocurrencies in cybercrime.
The cyberattack occurred at the beginning of August 2024, targeting the Grand Palais, which hosted several high-profile Olympic events. According to reports, the attackers gained access to sensitive financial data and threatened to release this information unless their demands for a cryptocurrency ransom were met.
Cybersecurity Challenges & The Role of Crypto
This attack on the Olympic venue brings to light the ongoing cybersecurity challenges faced by major international events. With the world watching, the stakes are incredibly high. The attackers were essentially playing a high-stakes game, akin to a digital blackjack, where they bet on the swift response and compliance of their targets to secure the cryptocurrency ransom.
Cryptocurrencies have become a preferred medium for ransom payments due to their pseudonymous nature. The ability to transfer large sums of money quickly and with relative anonymity makes cryptocurrencies an attractive option for cybercriminals. This incident is a stark reminder of the dual-edged sword that cryptocurrencies represent – while they offer numerous benefits for legitimate users, they also provide tools for malicious actors.
Response and Mitigation
In response to the attack, the organizing committee of the Paris 2024 Olympics worked closely with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies to contain the breach and mitigate further damage. The compromised systems were secured and measures were put in place to protect other vulnerable infrastructure from similar attacks.
Furthermore, this incident is expected to prompt a reevaluation of cybersecurity measures at large-scale events. It emphasizes the need for robust, proactive security protocols and the importance of staying ahead of evolving cyber threats.
Broader Implications
The cyberattack on the Grand Palais is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of increasing cyber threats targeting high-profile events and institutions. It serves as a wake-up call for organizers of major events worldwide to prioritize cybersecurity and to prepare for potential threats that could disrupt operations and compromise sensitive information.
Demanding cryptocurrency ransom is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist in today’s digital landscape. As cryptocurrencies continue to gain prominence, they also attract the attention of cybercriminals looking to exploit their unique properties. This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect against such high-stakes digital threats, ensuring the safety and integrity of global events like the Olympics.
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