The Kidnapping of WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka
In a shocking turn of events, the CEO of Canadian cryptocurrency firm WonderFi, Dean Skurka, was abducted and held for ransom on a busy Wednesday afternoon in downtown Toronto. According to CBC, Skurka was forcibly taken into a vehicle during rush hour, only to be released unharmed after transferring $1 million electronically to his captors.
This harrowing incident marks the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry. As reported by a security firm to CBC, Skurka’s abduction is the 171st case of physical violence aimed at stealing digital assets.
Financial Impact and Industry Response
Prior to the abduction, WonderFi had just released its third-quarter earnings report, revealing impressive revenue figures of $41 million CAD over the past nine months. The news comes amidst a surge in Bitcoin’s value, with the digital currency surpassing $76,000 this week to set a new all-time high.
Notably, WonderFi enjoys the backing of Shark Tank co-host Kevin OâLeary and holds a prominent position as one of the leading publicly traded cryptocurrency companies in Canada, as highlighted by Cointelegraph.
