Seven UK gang members have been convicted and sentenced for the kidnapping and extortion of a cryptocurrency investor. The victim was assaulted multiple times and forced to transfer cryptocurrency totaling £100,000 ($124,152) over several months. The incident began in January 2023 when the victim was confronted at home by a gang member demanding cryptocurrency. Following a series of attacks, including being bound and beaten, the victim was subjected to violent threats in October 2023 that escalated to life-threatening situations. The gang was eventually caught when police responded to an anonymous tip-off in December 2023, discovering the victim in distress with visible injuries. On January 30, 2025, at Manchester Crown Court, various gang members received lengthy prison sentences for their crimes, ranging from two to twenty years. This case highlights the rising trend of violence and extortion in the cryptocurrency sector, which has seen over $1.1 billion in extorted payments in 2023 alone.

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