WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka Kidnapped in Toronto, Released After $720K Ransom Payment

Dean Skurka, the CEO of WonderFi, was recently kidnapped in Toronto. Thankfully, he’s safe now after a ransom was paid.

According to a report from CBC, Skurka was forced into a car during rush hour. The kidnappers demanded money for his release. After paying a ransom of 1 million Canadian dollars, which is about $720,660, he was let go unharmed.

In his public statement, Skurka reassured everyone that “client funds and data remain safe and were not impacted by this incident.”

Police in Ontario have noted an increase in crime, especially with gun violence reaching new highs in the Greater Toronto Area. Just a heads up, the Consensus 2025 conference is set to take place in Toronto this May.

As the crypto market continues to rise, with Bitcoin recently hitting an all-time high, there’s been a troubling trend of kidnappings and extortion linked to cryptocurrency.

For instance, in Thailand, police arrested 12 people, including seven officers, for their involvement in a crypto kidnapping and extortion scheme. They allegedly extorted a Chinese national for 10 million USDT, fabricating charges to demand payment to drop the case.