London Gang Convicted of Kidnapping Barber They Thought Was a Bitcoin Billionaire—He Wasn't

Key Points

1. Quentin Cepeljac was abducted in May 2023 after being lured to the U.K. with promises of funds, only to have his crypto wallet contain just over $9.

2. The kidnappers initially demanded $67,000 but eventually settled for $2,700 from his bank account before releasing him.

3. The attackers, including Davina Raaymakers, befriended Cepeljac on social media and led him to a trap in Shepherd's Bush.

4. The incident underscores the risks of 'flex culture' in crypto, where criminals target individuals who flaunt wealth or crypto holdings.

5. Eyal Gruper and Callum Mitchell-Clark discuss the dangers of flex culture, with Mitchell-Clark arguing that violence is a criminal choice, not a consequence of visibility.