Rooch network co-founder robbed in Bangkok ahead of Ethereum Devcon

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As a seasoned analyst with extensive travel and security experience, I can’t help but share my thoughts on this unfortunate incident involving Haichao Zhu, a co-founder of Bitcoin application Rooch Network. Traveling alone, especially to unfamiliar territories, always comes with its own set of risks, which is something I’ve learned all too well in my years of globe-trotting.

A crypto co-founder was robbed in Bangkok while traveling there to attend the 2024 Ethereum Devcon conference. 

Haichao Zhu, one of the founders of Bitcoin app Rooch Network, advised attendees of the Ethereum Devcon gathering on November 5th to stay vigilant following his mugging with a knife in Bangkok, Thailand.

As per Zhu’s account, an attack occurred when he was wandering solo following his late-night entry into Bangkok. Thieves made off with his phone, inflicting a slight cut on his hand in the process.

In simpler terms, Zhu was fine but felt let down by the police’s handling of the situation. He mentioned that he spent the whole night at the police station without finding a solution.

In his warning, Zhu urged fellow Devcon attendees to stay alert, especially after dark, adding “Bangkok is still a safe and fun place just like all other places, you gotta watch out for the darkness.”

Jole Star, who is one of Rooch Network’s co-founders, recently noted in a different post that he and Haichao Zhu plan on contacting nearby stores close to the crime site to examine their security camera footage. However, he admitted it could be difficult to pinpoint the attackers based on the footage.

Additionally, he recommended that participants stay safe by not venturing out on their own after dark and by refraining from using their mobile devices while they walk, so as to reduce potential dangers.

The Ethereum Devcon, organized by the Ethereum Foundation, is their largest yearly event. The seventh installment of this conference kicks off on November 12th at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.

Notable individuals such as Vitalik Buterin (co-founder of Ethereum), Aya Miyaguchi (executive director of the Ethereum Foundation), and Bruno Macaes (former Portuguese secretary), along with other influential figures in the field of decentralized technology, are expected to participate in the event.

A similar incident to what happened recently occurred during the Ethereum Community Conference in Brussels last month. Rishant Kumar, who heads growth for Kilt Protocol and attended the conference, cautioned about “criminals targeting crypto enthusiasts,” sharing his personal experience of warding off an attacker.

This year, a troubling pattern has arisen involving multiple attempts at theft specifically aimed at people associated with cryptocurrencies. For instance, in August, a group of eleven Israeli travelers fell victim to an attack that resulted in the theft of approximately $700,000 worth of Bitcoin from them.

About a month ago, a 29-year-old was brutally killed following an incident where the assailants compelled him to send approximately 3 Bitcoins.

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2024-11-05 15:08