Bitcoin security expert Jameson Lopp's archive of physical attacks against cryptocurrency holders has more than doubled to 702 documented incidents after researcher Pizza Bitcoiner used artificial intelligence-assisted searches to uncover hundreds of previously overlooked cases.
The expanded database, maintained by Lopp since 2014, now catalogs kidnappings, home invasions, and violent robberies targeting crypto holders across dozens of countries. The records include 31 reported deaths linked to these attacks, a figure that underscores the physical dimension of digital asset security.
Pizza Bitcoiner's AI-assisted methodology combed through news reports, court documents, and law enforcement bulletins in multiple languages, identifying patterns that manual research had missed. The approach reflects a broader shift in how security researchers are deploying machine learning to map threat landscapes that span both digital and physical domains.
The data reveals geographic concentrations that challenge common assumptions. While high-profile incidents in North America and Europe receive disproportionate media attention, the map shows significant clusters in Latin America and parts of Asia where crypto adoption has outpaced personal security awareness. In several documented cases, victims were targeted after their holdings became known through social media posts, conference appearances, or public blockchain analytics.