Overview
A 21‑year‑old Ukrainian student was brutally tortured and burned alive in Vienna after attackers forced him to reveal the passwords to his cryptocurrency wallets. The assailants emptied his digital accounts before fleeing to Ukraine with a significant amount of cash.
Victim and Initial Discovery
The victim, identified as Danylo K., was the son of the deputy mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine. His body was discovered on November 26 in a burned‑out vehicle in Vienna’s Donaustadt district. The fire was reported around 12:30 a.m., and the charred remains were found in the back seat of a Mercedes S 350D with Ukrainian license plates.
The Attack
The attack began hours earlier in the underground parking garage of the Sofitel hotel in Vienna, where a 19‑year‑old suspect ambushed Danylo following a loud confrontation. A hotel guest alerted the reception, prompting police involvement. Passersby later noticed a large pool of blood in the stairwell leading to the parking area.
Investigators revealed that Danylo was severely beaten in the garage before being forced into his father’s black Mercedes. The assailants drove him to the Donaustadt location, where they subjected him to extended torture to extract his crypto wallet passwords. During the assault, Danylo’s teeth were knocked out, and the violence escalated over several hours.
Final Act of Violence
After gaining access to two crypto accounts, the attackers purchased gasoline from a nearby station and set Danylo on fire while he was crouched in the back seat. The autopsy confirmed death by suffocation and head injuries, with burns covering 80 percent of his body.
Investigation and Arrest
Vienna police identified the suspects through surveillance footage from the hotel garage and the gas station. The pair crossed into Ukraine at 9:07 a.m. the morning after the murder, triggering an international manhunt. Ukrainian authorities arrested the suspects on November 29, finding them in possession of a large amount of U.S. dollar bills. Investigators believe the stolen crypto was rapidly converted to cash.
Austrian officials have transferred the case to Ukrainian jurisdiction, as extradition is not possible under existing agreements between the countries. Danylo’s crypto accounts were completely emptied after his murder, though the total sum stolen has not been disclosed.
Personal Background
The victim had been living temporarily in a luxurious apartment in Vienna’s Triple Tower with his partner and their child. His family in Ukraine reported him missing on November 25 after losing contact with him and discovering his digital wallets had been drained.
Wider Implications for Crypto Holders
This tragic incident highlights a growing trend of violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency holders worldwide. Security researcher Jameson Lopp has documented over 60 such “wrench attacks” in 2025, representing a significant increase from previous years. France has the highest number of incidents, but similar crimes have been reported in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The brutal murder of Danylo K. underscores the rising risks associated with cryptocurrency ownership as the value of digital assets continues to climb. As criminals increasingly target crypto holders, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers in the digital asset space.
