A 21-year-old Ukrainian national — identified as Danylo Kuzmin, the son of a deputy mayor of Kharkiv — was kidnapped, tortured and killed in Vienna in an apparent crypto-related crime, Austrian police and multiple news reports say. Investigators believe the attackers forced him to reveal passwords to his cryptocurrency wallets before violently killing him and setting his car on fire. Two Ukrainian suspects have since been detained following an international manhunt.
Brutal attack in Vienna linked to crypto wallet theft
Police found Kuzmin’s burned body in the back seat of a black Mercedes in the Donaustadt district of Vienna in the early hours of Nov. 26, after a passerby spotted the burning vehicle. Autopsy reports and investigators say he had suffered blunt-force trauma and was likely suffocated or died from heat exposure inside the burning car.
According to reconstructed timelines, Kuzmin was lured to the underground garage of the Sofitel hotel in Vienna by a 19-year-old compatriot he trusted. There, the suspects allegedly beat and tortured him until he revealed passwords to two crypto wallets, which were then accessed and drained of funds. The attackers then kidnapped him, drove to a remote location in Vienna and set the car on fire with him inside.
Austrian investigators have linked large cryptocurrency transfers from his accounts to the crime, suggesting the motive was financial gain tied to digital assets.
Suspects arrested in Ukraine
Shortly after the murder, the two suspects fled to Ukraine. An international arrest warrant was issued, and by Nov. 29Ukrainian authorities arrested both men in Odesa.
The suspects are:
- Bohdan Reinzhuk (19), reportedly a university peer of Kuzmin and described in some reports as the stepson of Ukraine’s ambassador to Bulgaria.
- Oleksandr Agoiev (45), a former Ukrainian customs official.
Authorities reportedly recovered a large portion of the stolen funds in cash and other assets from the suspects and locations associated with them.
Investigation and legal process
Austrian and Ukrainian authorities are cooperating in the case. Due to current extradition limitations between Austria and Ukraine, prosecutors have indicated the suspects are likely to be tried in Ukraine rather than Austria.
Officials from both countries have not yet released detailed official statements about the ongoing investigation, but law enforcement has confirmed the crypto wallet access and theft appear tied to the motive of the crime.
Context: Crypto holders as targets of violent crime
The Vienna case highlights a concerning trend in which individuals with significant cryptocurrency holdings are increasingly targeted for violent extortion and robbery. Security analysts have noted spikes in “physical” attacks on crypto holders — sometimes called “wrench attacks” — as criminals seek access to private wallet keys by force. Experts warn this type of crime may be exacerbated by the ease of transferring and converting digital assets into cash internationally.
What to watch next
- Whether additional suspects are identified in connection with the murder or related financial transfers.
- Official statements from Austrian or Ukrainian prosecutors once legal proceedings begin.
- Broader efforts by European and international law-enforcement agencies to address violent crimes tied to digital asset theft.
Also Check: Saylor: “The Bitcoin hoarding will continue until the complaining stops”
XA4R1IUG