8 facts about Málaga’s murderous “Crypto Kidnapping” gang now wanted by Spanish & Danish police

Jakarta, Pintu News – A joint investigation by Spanish and Danish police has successfully dismantled an international criminal network accused of kidnapping and murder to steal cryptocurrency assets, including victims’ personal crypto wallets in Málaga, Spain.

This information was widely discussed by international media as a cross-border criminal case that stole the attention of the crypto world after the death toll from the attack. Data from the Spanish national police shows that this joint operation marks a major step in the fight against physical crimes related to digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto assets.

1. Chronology of the incident in Mijas that became the spotlight

The case began in April 2025 when a woman reported to the Mijas police that she and her partner were attacked by several masked perpetrators trying to gain access to their cryptocurrency wallet. According to the official police report, the perpetrators shot the male victim in the leg as he tried to flee before the two were forced into a vehicle. In the house where they were detained, the attackers attempted to access the victim’s digital assets using physical violence and pressure, according to investigative data.

Hours after the incident, police found the female victim released at midnight, but her partner did not show up and was later found dead in a wooded area around Mijas. The condition of the body showed signs of violence beyond the initial gunshot wound, linking the incident to a larger criminal network. Reports state that investigators found physical evidence at the scene of the arrest, including blood-stained clothing and electronic devices related to the case.

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2. Arrests in Spain and Denmark

As a result of intensive investigations, Spanish National Police officers arrested five people who were strongly suspected of being directly involved in the attack and kidnapping. The arrests came after a series of searches in Madrid and Málaga, during which police seized a number of items of evidence including firearms, dummy weapons, and relevant documents. Forensic evidence was also collected at the scene that is believed to be linked to the network’s criminal activity.

In addition, four other people have been charged in Denmark in connection with the same events, with two of them already in prison for similar cases. This cross-border collaboration demonstrates the intense coordination between Spanish and Danish authorities in the pursuit of criminal networks operating in more than one jurisdiction.

3. Motive and Modus Operandi of “Crypto Wrench Attacks”

Police investigations revealed that the main motivation behind this stunt was to gain access to the victim’s digital wallet, which contained significant crypto assets.

The group used physical violence, including coercion to hand over passwords and wallet recovery phrases, a modus operandi currently known as a “crypto wrench attack” in the crypto security community. This term refers to brutal tactics that attempt to steal digital assets through real-world intimidation and violence, rather than digital hacking alone.

Similar tactics are reportedly on the rise in some regions, marking a worrying trend where cryptocurrency holders are being targeted not only in cyberspace but also in the physical world. The Málaga case, which involved the use of weapons and pressure on personal passwords, is an extreme example of how digital assets can be a trigger for serious crime.

4. Impact on Crypto Community

The case caused an immediate reaction in the crypto community as it highlighted the non-technical risks that digital asset owners can face in real life. Crypto security experts emphasize the importance of physical protection of sensitive information such as seed phrases as well as caution in disclosing ownership of digital assets.

This incident serves as a lesson on how offline privacy and security are just as important as on-chain security when it comes to cryptocurrencies. In addition, this case reflects the need for strong law enforcement against physical crimes related to cryptocurrencies, including international collaboration to prevent and crack down on criminal networks that target digital asset owners in different countries.

5. Learn from this incident

The incident in Málaga shows that the threat to cryptocurrency owners comes not only from cyber attacks or digital hacking, but also from real crimes that can lead to extreme violence.

Law enforcement data from Spain and Denmark underscores that digital wallet security must be accompanied by real-world vigilance, especially for those known to hold high-value crypto assets.

This case may also prompt an increased educational campaign on private key management and personal security practices among holders of Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other cryptocurrencies. Attention to digital asset security is no longer just technical but also strategic in the context of increasingly complex physical threats.

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FAQ

What happened in the crypto kidnapping case in Málaga?

The incident in Málaga involved the kidnapping of a couple by a group of perpetrators trying to access their cryptocurrency wallet, with the male victim found dead after being assaulted. These events were reported by the Spanish national police as part of a criminal investigation.

Who was arrested in connection with this case?

Five people were arrested in Spain and four were charged in Denmark in connection with the kidnapping and murder, according to police from both countries.

What is the motive behind this crime?

The main motive is to gain access to the victim’s crypto assets, with the perpetrators using violence to try to obtain their digital wallet passwords.

What does the “crypto wrench attack” mentioned in the report mean?

This term describes criminal behavior that uses physical violence to force digital asset owners to give up access to their cryptocurrency wallets, rather than through online hacking.

What impact will this case have on the crypto community?

This case triggered a warning about the importance of physical security and privacy of sensitive information of crypto asset owners, in addition to technical safeguards such as encryption and double authentication.

Reference

• Bitcoin.com News. Spain and Denmark Police Arrest Crypto Kidnapping Gang Linked to Málaga Murder. Accessed December 17, 2025