The kidnapped CEO of WonderFi was released after paying a ransom of 720,000 dollars
Dean Skurka is the president and CEO of WonderFi, a Canadian crypto company Skurka was forced into a car during rush hour in downtown Toronto.
Kidnapped Canadian cryptocurrency company WonderFi has been returned safely after electronically transferring $1 million ($720,000) to its captors.
WonderFi President and CEO Dean Skurka was forced into a car near University Avenue and Richmond Street W in downtown Toronto around 6 a.m. Wednesday, the CBC reported.
Skurka was ordered to pay a $1 million ransom. According to a source close to the investigation, he was later released in Central Park in Etobicoke. Speaking about the abduction, Skurka said:
“The safety and security of all WonderFi employees is paramount. Customer funds and information remain safe, and are not affected by this incident.
According to James Lopp, co-founder and chief security officer of Kasa, a security firm focused on protecting crypto users, the Skurka kidnapping is the 171st case of violence targeting crypto holders.
Lop said:
“as a [Bitcoin] As prices increase, more awareness of the space spreads throughout society and as a result many criminally minded people want to try to figure out what the ROI is for physically assaulting a known crypto holder.
The hack comes at a time when bitcoin prices are on the rise.
Yesterday, Bitcoin hit a new all-time high of $76,677 on major crypto exchanges. The new rate comes as the US Federal Reserve announced a 25 basis point interest rate cut.
Earlier in the week, Bitcoin broke a new all-time high of $75,317, as election results showed Donald Trump as the winner of the White House.
