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Journalist
Hassan Shittu
Journalist
Hassan Shittu
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In a concerning violent incident for the cryptocurrency community, Rooch Network co-founder Haichao Zhu was faced with a knifepoint robbery in Bangkok shortly after his arrival for Ethereum’s upcoming Devcon conference.
Zhu’s experience serves as a sobering reminder for conference attendees, who are now urged to exercise heightened caution while navigating the city’s streets, especially during late-night hours.
Ethereum Devcon Bangkok Violent Robbery: Waring to Attendees!
Shortly after Zhu’s flight arrived in Bangkok, the robbery occurred around 4:30 AM local time.
He was reportedly approached by two men wielding knives, who stole his phone during the confrontation.
Although Zhu escaped unharmed, he took to social media to warn other attendees and crypto enthusiasts planning to attend Devcon, advising them to avoid traveling alone in unfamiliar areas during late hours.
Zhu shared in his message:
“Generally speaking, Bangkok is still a safe and fun place, but just like all other places, you gotta watch out for the darkness.”
Despite the unfortunate encounter, he maintains that the city remains an enjoyable destination but cautioned attendees to stay vigilant.
The incident has resonated within the community, especially following similar attacks at other prominent crypto conferences worldwide.
Zhu’s robbery follows a similar recent incident during the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) in Brussels, where multiple attendees fell victim to violent confrontations.
One notable incident involved Rishant Kumar, the head of growth at Kilt Protocol, who fought off an assailant near the EthCC venue.
It was reported that a participant sustained a knee injury during a separate robbery attempt. The most severe incident saw a conference-goer threatened at gunpoint.
Major conferences like Devcon 7 draw large crowds but also attract opportunistic criminals who recognize the value of personal electronics and crypto-linked assets attendees often carry.
With Devcon 7 set to commence on November 12 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, the incident has resulted in individual improved security measures.
The four-day event will attract thousands of industry professionals, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation executive director Aya Miyaguchi.
Local authorities in Bangkok have reportedly been informed about Zhu’s robbery, though no arrests have been made, and the stolen phone remains unrecovered.
Coinciding with Zhu’s robbery is a recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) that highlights a significant increase in crypto-related criminal activity across Southeast Asia.
The authorities called on Southeast Asian countries to criminalize unlicensed money service businesses and virtual asset service providers (VASPs).
The report revealed that one entity alone processed hundreds of millions in transactions for criminal groups engaged in drug and human trafficking, cybercrime, and child exploitation.
Online fraud in Southeast Asia has grown sharply. An estimated 220,000 people work in scam operations in Cambodia and Myanmar, often lured by false job promises.
Popular scams, such as “pig butchering,” romance scams, impersonation, and job scams, leverage emerging technologies like AI and deepfakes to defraud victims.
Just recently, Hong Kong police have dismantled a $46 million crypto romance scam that targeted men Asia-wide through sophisticated deepfake technology.
Crypto phishing attacks also remain a significant issue, with over 10,000 people losing $46.7 million in September alone, as reported by Scam Sniffer, a Web3 anti-scam platform.
The organization warns that individuals in this region are increasingly at risk of being targeted by sophisticated scams and attacks, especially as crypto adoption grows.
Amid all these, a recent report shows that Asia has risen above the US, with its share of developers climbing from 13% to 32%, marking the first time it leads globally in crypto talent.
