The rise of cryptocurrencies has created incredible opportunities — but also new dangers.
For the Taihuttu family, famously known as the “Bitcoin Family,” who have been living entirely off cryptocurrency since 2017, the dream of financial freedom has come with terrifying risks.
Recent high-profile kidnappings and attacks targeting crypto entrepreneurs have forced them to rethink how they protect their digital assets and, most importantly, their family’s safety.
From Selling Everything to Embracing the Crypto Lifestyle
Didi Taihuttu, his wife Romaine, and their three daughters made headlines years ago when they sold off nearly all their possessions — even their home and children’s toys — to dive headfirst into Bitcoin.
Moving to a campsite in the Netherlands, they fully committed to a life supported only by cryptocurrency.
Over time, they shared their unbanked lifestyle online, building a loyal following by showcasing the freedom and glamor of their unconventional way of life.
The Growing Threat of Crypto Kidnappings Changes Everything
But the glamorous lifestyle came with a harsh wake-up call.
A string of kidnappings, assaults, and even murders involving crypto executives has shaken the family to the core.
The once straightforward way they stored their crypto keys — mainly hardware wallets — suddenly felt dangerously vulnerable.
So the Taihuttus completely overhauled their security system, adopting a method that sounds like it’s straight from a spy thriller.
Spreading Crypto Codes Across Four Continents
For the past eight months, the family has been hiding their crypto seed phrases — the passwords needed to recover their wallets — engraved on metal cards and scattered across four different continents.
Some parts are even stored encrypted through secure digital platforms.
“We’ve changed everything,” Didi told CNBC from their new base in Phuket, Thailand.
“Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I can’t give them more than what’s on my phone wallet. And that’s not much.”
Dividing the Keys and Throwing Off Potential Thieves
The 24-word seed phrase is split into four segments of six words each, stored in separate countries or digitally locked away offline.
The metal cards are carefully engraved using traditional hammer and stamping tools, ensuring durability.
Didi also swapped out some words in the phrases to mislead anyone trying to steal their funds, which means he has to memorize the changed parts to regain access.
“Even if someone finds 18 of the 24 words, they can’t do anything,” he explained.
Using Hot Wallets for Everyday Spending With Extra Security
Despite these heavy security measures, the family still uses “hot” wallets — crypto wallets connected to the internet — for daily spending and trading.
But these require multiple signatures and authentication steps before any transaction is approved, adding layers of protection. “It’s a strange world right now,” Didi said.
“So we’re taking our own precautions, and we don’t use any hardware wallets anymore.”
Distrust in Crypto Custodians and Long-Term Planning
About 65% of the Taihuttu family’s cryptocurrency is locked away across different continents, a strategy Didi believes is safer than keeping everything in one place.
He’s wary of relying too much on companies that manage crypto codes, fearing what might happen if such a company goes bankrupt.
“You’re putting your capital back in someone else’s hands,” he said.
The hidden funds also serve as a pension plan for the family, with Didi willing to travel internationally whenever he needs to access those savings.
Moving Toward Decentralized Trading Platforms
When trading crypto, Didi prefers decentralized exchanges like Apex, where transactions occur directly between individuals without middlemen.
This approach fits with their overall emphasis on security and control.
Pulling Back From Online Fame for the Family’s Safety
The Taihuttus have also scaled back their online presence for safety reasons.
“Creating content is my passion, it’s what I love to do every day,” Didi admitted.
“But if it’s not safe for my daughters, I have to think about them first.”
Real Danger Hits Close to Home in Paris
His concerns became very real last month when the daughter of a crypto executive and her child narrowly escaped a violent kidnapping attempt in Paris.
Three armed men tried to force them into a van after attacking the child’s father.
Thankfully, bystanders’ screams scared off the attackers, but the incident sent shockwaves through the crypto community.
A Rising Tide of Crypto Crime and Kidnappings
The family’s fears are echoed by ongoing cases across the globe — like the arrest in Morocco of a French-Moroccan man suspected of masterminding kidnappings targeting crypto entrepreneurs in France.
Among the victims was David Balland, co-founder of the billion-dollar crypto firm Ledger, who was gruesomely attacked and held for ransom.
Other brutal attacks have been reported in New York, Argentina, and Bulgaria involving high-profile crypto figures, highlighting the growing risks in this niche but booming market.