WonderFi CEO Freed After $1M Ransom Paid to Kidnappers

Dean Skurka, the CEO of Canadian crypto company WonderFi Technologies, became the victim of a kidnapping in downtown Toronto. According to CBC, on November 6, during rush hour, he was forcibly taken into a vehicle and a $1 million ransom was demanded for his release. Skurka transferred the funds electronically before being set free.

Details

Skurka confirmed the incident and assured that he is safe. He disclosed that he transferred the ransom electronically and was subsequently released.

This case highlights a growing trend of kidnappings and attacks targeting representatives of the crypto industry:

• In 2017, unknown assailants kidnapped the wife of a cryptocurrency exchange owner in Brazil, initially demanding $40 million in Bitcoin as ransom.
• In February 2024, Phuket police arrested five Russians suspected of kidnapping a Belarusian couple to extort $900,000 in cryptocurrency.
• In October 2024, an English businessman was abducted from a golf course, with the kidnappers demanding $15 million in cryptocurrency.
• In August, six Malaysians kidnapped a Chinese citizen, demanding $1 million in the stablecoin Tether.

WonderFi Technologies, backed by investor Kevin O’Leary, remains one of Canada’s most prominent public crypto companies, with a market capitalization of $75 million. In a statement following the incident, Skurka assured that the company’s funds and data were not compromised.

Neither WonderFi nor its CEO has provided additional public comments on the matter. The police are investigating the incident, but no further details have been disclosed at this time.