‘Bitcoin Family’ Hides Crypto Access Across Four Continents Amid Crimes

PORTUGAL – As violent threats against cryptocurrency holders rise, one high-profile crypto family is taking extreme steps to protect their digital wealth—and their lives.

The Taihuttus, known in the cryptocurrency community as the “Bitcoin Family,” have dramatically overhauled their security strategy following a wave of kidnappings targeting crypto investors and executives across the globe. Since going all-in on bitcoin in 2017 and selling nearly all their possessions, the Dutch family of five has traveled the world living off their crypto investments. But recent events have forced them to rethink everything.

In response to these growing threats, the family has developed a decentralized and analog-heavy method of storing their crypto keys. Their approach involves splitting a single 24-word bitcoin seed phrase—the key that unlocks access to their holdings—into four groups of six words each. These fragments are then hidden in secure locations across four continents. Some are stored using digital encryption services based on blockchain tech, while others are physically etched onto fireproof metal plates, then concealed in strategic geographic spots.

The family’s shift away from traditional hardware wallets was triggered by security concerns over backdoors, remote vulnerabilities, and disturbing incidents of physical coercion used against crypto holders. By removing their reliance on digital devices and spreading access across the globe, they aim to eliminate any single point of failure.

The strategy comes as the crypto world contends with a surge in targeted abductions. In recent months, a number of high-profile cases have raised alarm bells within the community. In France, multiple executives and their family members were taken hostage in brutal ransom schemes. In one case, a crypto millionaire’s father was allegedly tortured over multiple days. Another involved a co-founder of a crypto wallet company and his wife abducted from their home.

More recently, a shocking case in New York revealed that an Italian tourist was held captive for 17 days. His kidnappers reportedly used physical violence, electrical shocks, and tracking devices in an attempt to extract his bitcoin credentials.

These incidents reflect a disturbing trend: criminals increasingly targeting crypto holders not for their cash, but for access to digital wallets where assets can be moved quickly and anonymously. The irreversible nature of blockchain transactions, combined with the potential for massive sums in a single transfer, makes seed phrases a prime target.

In light of these dangers, the Taihuttus’ response has been decisive. The family’s cold storage system is now entirely offline, with no reliance on hardware wallets. Seed phrase fragments are hidden in a combination of digital vaults and physical safes. Even if attackers gain access to part of the phrase, they would need to locate the remaining global fragments—and know which words have been personally altered as part of an additional layer of encryption.

To protect their day-to-day spending, the family still maintains some assets in “hot” wallets, which are connected to the internet. These are secured using multi-signature protocols, requiring multiple approvals before transactions can be executed. They also utilize decentralized platforms like Safe (formerly Gnosis Safe) for Ethereum and similar solutions for bitcoin, allowing greater flexibility without compromising custody.

Roughly 65% of the family’s crypto holdings remain in cold storage under this globally distributed model. These funds, considered long-term reserves, are intended as a digital pension—untouched unless bitcoin reaches the family’s ambitious target of $1 million per coin by 2033.

The family’s trading activity, meanwhile, has increasingly moved toward decentralized exchanges. By using platforms like Apex, they can trade directly from self-custody wallets, avoiding centralized services that have recently suffered data breaches and security incidents. The Taihuttus also utilize algorithmic bots to manage positions, further reducing the need for manual intervention that might expose them to risk.

Beyond tools and tactics, the family’s entire lifestyle has shifted toward discretion. They no longer post regular travel updates and have abandoned filming YouTube content from their homes after receiving messages from strangers identifying their precise location. Recently, they moved houses in Thailand after multiple individuals deduced their address from videos and contacted them with veiled threats.

While the Taihuttus remain committed to the crypto ethos of decentralization and independence, their rising public profile has made them a target. The family has now started making travel decisions based on security considerations. France, once part of their regular European circuit, has been removed from future plans due to safety concerns. Discussions about security have become commonplace in the household—even the children have become aware of the risks, prompting difficult conversations about what might happen if they were targeted.

Rather than relying on corporate custody solutions like Swiss vaults or regulated institutions, the Taihuttus continue to trust their own system: decentralized, analog, and inaccessible without international travel and extensive knowledge. Their commitment reflects both a deep trust in bitcoin’s long-term value—and a growing skepticism of third-party systems, even those claiming to offer institutional-grade protection.

As threats evolve, so too must the methods for staying one step ahead. For the Bitcoin Family, that means never keeping all their digital eggs—or seed phrases—in one basket.