In an alarming development for the cryptocurrency community, Rooch Network co-founder Haichao Zhu recently fell victim to a violent knifepoint robbery shortly after arriving in Bangkok for Ethereum’s upcoming Devcon conference. The incident has prompted a call for heightened awareness and caution among conference attendees.
Ethereum Devcon Bangkok: Warning Issued to Attendees
Zhu’s experience unfolded at approximately 4:30 AM local time, when he was confronted by two armed individuals who forcibly took his phone. Although Zhu escaped without physical harm, he shared his ordeal on social media, urging Devcon attendees and crypto enthusiasts to remain vigilant, particularly when navigating unfamiliar areas late at night.
“Bangkok is generally safe and enjoyable,” Zhu noted, “but, as with any destination, it’s important to be mindful of the risks.”
The incident reverberates within the crypto community, following similar attacks at high-profile blockchain events worldwide. During a recent Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) in Brussels, several attendees were assaulted, including Rishant Kumar, head of growth at Kilt Protocol, who fought off an attacker near the event venue. Other attendees also faced incidents, including threats at gunpoint and physical altercations resulting in injuries.
Heightened Security Measures for Devcon 7 in Bangkok
With Devcon 7 scheduled to begin on November 12 at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, this robbery has spurred the community to adopt additional security measures. Thousands of industry experts and influencers, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation executive Aya Miyaguchi, are expected to attend the four-day event.
Local authorities in Bangkok have been informed of Zhu’s robbery, though no suspects have been apprehended, and his phone remains unrecovered.
Rising Crypto-Related Crime Across Southeast Asia
This incident coincides with growing crypto-related criminal activity in Southeast Asia. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently issued a report urging the region to criminalize unlicensed money services and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). According to the report, Southeast Asia has become a hotspot for financial crime, with some entities processing hundreds of millions in illicit transactions linked to drug trafficking, cybercrime, and human exploitation.
Additionally, widespread scams like “pig butchering,” romance scams, impersonation, and job scams increasingly use AI and deepfake technology to deceive victims. In Hong Kong, police recently dismantled a $46 million crypto romance scam targeting men across Asia. Crypto phishing attacks also persist, with over 10,000 victims collectively losing $46.7 million in September alone, as reported by Web3 anti-scam platform Scam Sniffer.
As crypto adoption accelerates, Southeast Asian countries are urged to bolster protective measures against such attacks. Notably, Asia now surpasses the U.S. in developer activity, with the region’s share rising from 13% to 32% globally, a milestone that underscores the region’s significant influence on the blockchain industry.
For updates on crypto security, visit CentBit.Online – Crypto & Blockchain Expert Bangladesh.
