Mexican Murder Suspects Tied to Alleged Bitcoin Heist
Two suspects have been arrested in Mexico for the murder of four people, allegedly in an attempt to steal millions of dollars in Bitcoin from a 'cold wallet'. The victims were Jonathan Meléndez, his pregnant wife, their daughter, and an employee at their home. La Jornada reports that one suspect had a business relationship with one of the victims.
The suspects, Diego Sebastián and Gerardo (surnames withheld), allegedly targeted the cold wallet due to its large Bitcoin holdings. If convicted, each homicide victim could carry a sentence ranging from 25 to 70 years in prison.
Blockchain security firm CertiK reports a rise in 'wrench attacks', which involve violence or threats to obtain crypto wallet access. Chainalysis estimates indicate that wrench attacks have generated more than $30 million in stolen crypto during the first half of 2026.