In a shocking incident reported by the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office, a Bitcoin trader residing in Herzliya fell victim to a brutal home invasion on September 7. This alarming event has raised concerns about the safety of cryptocurrency traders.

The Sequence of the Attack

The attack was meticulously planned, with the perpetrators waiting in the stairwell outside the trader’s apartment. At approximately 8:10 a.m., they seized the opportunity to enter when the door opened. The assailants overpowered the victim, binding him and inflicting stab wounds above his knees. They resorted to intimidation tactics, threatening his family to coerce the trader into surrendering his digital wallet access codes.

The attackers initially demanded 500 Bitcoin but resorted to violence to obtain the credentials. Under significant duress, the victim provided the necessary information, which led to the transfer of approximately $547,260 in Bitcoin and $42,248 in Tether (USDT). Additionally, the intruders made off with a Rolex watch worth around $50,000, a laptop, a Trezor hardware wallet, €5,300 in cash, and several thousand Israeli shekels. Before fleeing, they attempted to obliterate any evidence by spraying disinfectant throughout the apartment.

Law Enforcement Response and Charges

In a swift response, authorities apprehended 46-year-old Murad Mahajna on September 10. The Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office charged him with several serious offenses, including breaking and entering, aggravated robbery, extortion by threats, obstruction of justice, and making threats.

Investigators successfully connected Mahajna to the crime scene through a combination of phone records, voice identification, technological data, and CCTV footage. Mahajna is known to have a criminal background, with 10 prior convictions related to violence, drugs, and weapons offenses.

Financial Implications and Evidence

The financial impact of this crime is significant, with approximately $589,508 in cryptocurrency transferred from the victim’s accounts, combining both Bitcoin and USDT. When factoring in the stolen watch and cash, the total financial loss nearly reaches the widely reported figure of $600,000.

This incident has been recorded as a “wrench” attack, a term used to describe physical assaults on cryptocurrency holders. It is noted as the 52nd such attack documented in 2025. Further distressing the victim, post-robbery phone calls demanded additional coins, accompanied by threats to locate his family if demands were not met.