Nick Drakon, the CEO of the crypto research and education platform Revelo Intel, has stepped down following a harrowing robbery in which he was held at gunpoint and forced to transfer personal, company, and investor funds. In a statement posted on Sept. 5 on social platform X, Drakon revealed that he had been targeted by a highly sophisticated criminal group.
“I was recently targeted, surveilled, and robbed by a highly sophisticated group,” Drakon wrote. “The group was specifically interested in crypto assets and knew the deposit addresses belonging to the crypto businesses I operate. I was forced, at gunpoint, to log into a number of crypto accounts and transfer funds out.”
Drakon reported that the thieves stole not only his personal funds but also Revelo’s working capital, retained earnings, and funds from Revelo Ventures, the company’s investment arm. He added that his family was also threatened, including his wife and eight-month-old son, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Internal Involvement Suspected in Revelo Ventures Ceo’s Robbery
Drakon indicated that there is "some evidence" suggesting involvement from individuals within Revelo Ventures, though he refrained from divulging further details in order not to compromise an ongoing investigation. He also expressed concerns that revealing too much might put his family at greater risk.
In light of the incident, former Chief Operating Officer Vu Benson has been appointed as the new CEO of Revelo Intel, taking over the leadership of the company while Drakon steps aside.
In an effort to address the financial fallout from the robbery, Drakon has forfeited his stake in Revelo to return some of the stolen money to members of Revelo Ventures. Additionally, 30% of the company’s future profits will be allocated to affected investors as part of a long-term recovery plan.
Drakon acknowledged that he made “severe mistakes” that put him in the crosshairs of the criminals and issued an apology to those who lost funds as a result of the theft.
Broader Crypto Crime Concerns
This attack on Drakon comes in the wake of a similar crypto-related incident, where four suspects in Ukraine allegedly kidnapped and murdered a foreign national, stealing $170,000 worth of Bitcoin.
Jameson Lopp, a well-known figure in the Bitcoin cypherpunk community, has issued repeated warnings about the dangers of flaunting wealth and engaging in peer-to-peer trades with untrusted individuals. Lopp noted that many criminals identify potential victims through social media, meetups, and crypto conferences, advising against wearing crypto-branded clothing and publicizing financial holdings online.
As the cryptocurrency sector continues to grow, high-profile figures remain vulnerable to targeted attacks, with these incidents serving as grim reminders of the risks associated with the space.
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