Ukrainian Student Killed for Cryptocurrency Passwords in Vienna

A tragic incident in Vienna has surfaced involving a 21-year-old Ukrainian student who was brutally murdered following an attempt to extract passwords for his cryptocurrency wallets. This case has emerged amidst a worldwide rise in violent “wrench attacks” targeting crypto holders.

Key Takeaways

21-year-old Danylo K. was murdered in Vienna for his cryptocurrency passwords.
The attackers, a 19-year-old and a 45-year-old Ukrainian national, were arrested after fleeing to Ukraine.
The incident underscores a growing trend of violent attacks linked to cryptocurrency.
Danylo's accounts were emptied after his death, prompting a widespread investigation.
Rising cryptocurrency values have made holders more susceptible to targeted crimes.

Vienna police investigate burned car in fatal crypto robbery case

Danylo K., a Ukrainian student, was killed after being forced to disclose his cryptocurrency wallet passwords. His attackers burned him alive in his vehicle after draining his wallets. The suspects have since been apprehended after fleeing to Ukraine.

Details of the Crime

Authorities reported that Danylo K. was found deceased on November 26 in a burned-out car located on Marlen-Haushofer-Weg in the Donaustadt district. Residents had alerted emergency services after noticing a fire around 12:30 a.m. His body was discovered in the back seat of a black Mercedes S 350D with Ukrainian plates, positioned near the Ostbahn railway line.

The horrific events began earlier in the evening at the underground parking garage of the Sofitel “SO/Vienna” hotel on Praterstraße. According to police, the 19-year-old suspect confronted Danylo, leading to a loud altercation that prompted a hotel guest to alert staff. A bloody scene was later found in the stairwell leading to the parking area.

Investigators reveal that after being beaten, Danylo was forced into a car by his attackers who drove him to an isolated area in Donaustadt. They tortured him to extract passwords for two cryptocurrency accounts, successfully gaining access to the funds. Following this, the assailants used gasoline purchased from a nearby station to set Danylo ablaze while he was still in the vehicle.

Colonel Gerhard Winkler of the State Criminal Police Office indicated that Danylo's death was due to suffocation or heatstroke. Medical examination reports noted that 80% of his body had been burned. Forensic teams recovered a melted gasoline container from the burned car.

Arrest and Investigation

Vienna police utilized surveillance footage from the hotel garage and the gas station to identify the suspects, who fled to Ukraine shortly after the crime. An international manhunt was initiated, and both suspects were captured by Ukrainian authorities on November 29, found in possession of significant amounts of cash. Investigators suspect that the cryptocurrency was quickly converted to cash following the robbery.

Austrian officials have since handed over the case to Ukrainian authorities, as extradition is not feasible under current agreements. Although it was confirmed that Danylo's crypto accounts were fully drained after his death, officials have not disclosed the total value of the stolen assets. His family in Ukraine had reported him missing on November 25 after losing contact and discovering the status of his wallets.

Danylo was the son of Kharkiv’s deputy mayor and was living in a luxury apartment in Vienna at the time of the incident.

Growing Trend of Crypto-Related Violence

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov expressed his condolences about the incident, calling it “a human tragedy” and reaffirming that the situation remains a personal family matter.

Security researcher Jameson Lopp has reported over 60 “wrench attacks” occurring in 2025 alone, marking a 169% increase since February and a 33% rise compared to all of 2024. France has reported the highest number of these attacks with 14 confirmed cases. Violent thefts linked to cryptocurrencies have been noted across various countries, including Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom this year.

For example, a home invasion in British Columbia involved attackers torturing a family for their cryptocurrency, while another incident in Oxford saw masked robbers demanding crypto transfers at gunpoint. Analysts attribute these violent trends to the increasing value of cryptocurrencies, making holders more appealing targets for criminals.