Early investors in bitcoin have become targets of criminals since the value of cryptocurrencies began to soar last year . Digital coins can be easily transferred to an anonymous account , with no way to stop the transaction or steal the funds , increasing the likelihood of a successful armed hold - up . Organizers of the conference, known as the Satoshi Roundtable and held near Cancun, Mexico, brought in a security force and instituted significant privacy measures for guests to protect them from criminals while they were in attendance. Last month , a young Russian investor was attacked in his flat in Phuket , Thailand , and forced to transfer $ 100 of cash to an online wallet . In New York , a man was held captive by a friend until he transferred more than $ 1.8 m in ether .
Early investors in bitcoin have become targets of criminals since the value of cryptocurrencies began to soar last year . Digital coins can be easily transferred to an anonymous account , with no way to stop the transaction or steal the funds , increasing the likelihood of a successful armed hold - up . Last month , a young Russian investor was attacked in his flat in Phuket , Thailand , and forced to transfer $ 100 of cash to an online wallet . In New York , a man was held captive by a friend until he transferred more than $ 1.8 m in ether .