Crypto Millionaire Reveals Shocking Details of His $2M Kidnapping in the UK
Crypto investor Evan Luthra has revealed he was kidnapped in Oxford, UK in November 2025, when five masked men stole over $2 million in cryptocurrency and a Richard Mille watch.
The attack occurred on November 4, 2025, as Luthra was traveling from Oxford University to London with four friends. The private driver, booked through an acquaintance, suddenly turned into a secluded lane where five masked men entered the vehicle, assaulted Luthra, and specifically targeted him for the crypto assets.
Within the first ten seconds, I realised this was a kidnapping. I also realised I was going to lose millions of dollars.
Luthra chose not to resist, handing over his special-edition Richard Mille watch valued at approximately £450,000. The attackers then used his Face ID to unlock his phone, withdrawing over $1.5 million from his Binance account and roughly $600,000 in Ethereum from his Gate exchange account before attempting to access his bank accounts.
After about 30 minutes, the kidnappers left with everyone's phones, abandoning the vehicle in the Five Mile Drive area of north Oxford. The group walked to a local police station, where they provided statements until after midnight, leaving Luthra without internet access during the critical period when the stolen funds were being transferred.
Recovery Efforts
Once Luthra regained access to his devices, he contacted Binance and MEXC exchanges, which helped freeze some of the stolen funds. Binance returned approximately $370,000 through a UK court order under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), marking the first such order involving Binance. MEXC also blocked funds and provided data to aid tracing efforts.
In total, Luthra has recovered just under $1 million of the stolen assets, though he declined to provide the exact figure. A significant portion of the stolen funds remains missing, with Luthra noting that faster contact with exchanges could have prevented more losses.
Legal Proceedings
Thames Valley Police conducted a complex investigation involving CCTV, number-plate cameras, and cryptocurrency tracing. Four men aged 19-37 were arrested in November 2025, with Abdul Malik Cali, 24, later charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. The trial, originally scheduled for November 2026, has been delayed until November 2027 due to court scheduling constraints.
Luthra expressed disappointment about the delay but acknowledged the need for proper court time. Police informed him that robberies of this magnitude are rare for Oxford in recent years.
Growing Trend
Luthra's case reflects a disturbing pattern of 'wrench attacks' targeting cryptocurrency holders. According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, such attacks stole a record $58 million in 2025 and another $30 million in the first half of 2026. France has seen the sharpest increase in these incidents.
Luthra believes his public profile made him a target, noting that the attackers knew who he was. His case underscores the physical risks associated with holding large amounts of cryptocurrency, with attackers often leaving traceable trails when cashing through exchanges.
The incident follows other crypto-related kidnappings, including the January 2026 murder of former Ukrainian banker Alexandru Adarici in Milan during an alleged kidnapping plot to extort €250,000 in cryptocurrency, and a 16-hour kidnapping in France where a 74-year-old man was injured while his son was demanded to pay €3 million in crypto.
Luthra offered a perspective on the risks: 'You can always make money. You can always buy another watch… But you cannot get back your life or undo permanent physical harm.'
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