Thai police have launched a manhunt for two Russian suspects accused of turning a cryptocurrency dispute into a violent robbery in Phuket.

According to the local newspaper Khaosod, he was a 31-year-old Russian citizen Assaulted The theft of $20,000 from a hotel in Karon, Phuket. The suspects, who are known close associates of the victim, allegedly confronted him about unpaid cryptocurrency debts stemming from previous business dealings in Russia.

A complaint filed by local police alleges that the mastermind, named Andre, asked the victim to pay $120,000 and tried to force the victim to open his crypto wallet, even threatening to kill him if he refused.

When the victim resisted opening the wallet, he was repeatedly beaten and kicked, and eventually lost consciousness after being hit on the back of the head. The attackers then fled the scene after stealing the money and leaving the victim tied up in the bathroom.

One of the suspects, Andrei, remains in Thailand, while the second, Dmitry, fled to Dubai shortly after the incident. Arrest warrants have been issued, and Thai authorities continue to track down the suspects with the assistance of local police and immigration units.

Cryptocurrencies, now more valuable than ever, are becoming increasingly popular Entangled With violent crimes. In 2024 alone, the digital gold rush has fueled a wave of horrific crimes, from high-stakes kidnappings to violent extortion.

In July, there were four men Arrested Charged with the kidnapping and murder of a 29-year-old tourist in Kiev, which police said was a premeditated incident over plans to steal 3 bitcoins. After discovering that the victim owned Bitcoin, the suspects tracked down the tourist and assaulted him, trying to force them to transfer Bitcoin before the situation turned deadly.

A month later, a similar situation occurred I mentioned Santa Teresa de Cubano Beach in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Eleven Israeli tourists were robbed of a large amount of Bitcoin at gunpoint by criminals wearing police uniforms believed to have received police training.