TLDR
- A former Revolut employee allegedly threatened to leak a crypto trader’s personal KYC data unless paid a ransom in crypto
- The trader said the ex-employee also contacted his family members who use Revolut to apply pressure
- Revolut confirmed it reported the matter to law enforcement and said no systems were breached
- Physical attacks on crypto investors rose 75% in 2025, reaching 72 verified cases worldwide
- French authorities charged 25 suspects in 2025 linked to kidnappings and crypto ransom demands
A crypto trader known as TraderSZ said a former Revolut employee threatened to expose his personal information unless he paid a cryptocurrency ransom.
Reminder to be careful when using @Revolut
Their employees have tried to extort me threatening to share my personal details
They looked up my details and found any other family member using Revolut and contacted them to force to pay up or be blackmailed
Other people on ct… https://t.co/jCCyC4a4Gz pic.twitter.com/8KGQ345HUN
— TraderSZ (@trader1sz) February 19, 2026
TraderSZ posted about the incident on X, saying the ex-employee found his details through Revolut’s systems. He said the person then contacted family members who also use Revolut to pressure him into paying.
“They looked up my details and found any other family member using Revolut and contacted them to force to pay up or be blackmailed,” TraderSZ wrote.
He shared screenshots of conversations with Revolut’s customer support about the incident. Cointelegraph reached out to TraderSZ for more details but did not receive a response.
Revolut confirmed the incident and said it has reported the matter to law enforcement. A company spokesperson said authorities are actively investigating the former employee’s alleged actions.
“This matter relates to the unlawful and criminal actions of a third party, who is a former employee,” the spokesperson said.
Revolut added that its security systems worked as intended and that no procedural breach occurred. The company said it is in direct contact with the affected customer.
Revolut is a British fintech firm valued at $75 billion as of November 2025. The platform had more than 65 million users worldwide as of September 2025.
Crypto Ransom Attacks on the Rise
This incident is part of a broader pattern of threats targeting cryptocurrency holders.
Physical attacks on crypto investors, known as “wrench attacks,” rose 75% in 2025. Cybersecurity firm CertiK recorded 72 verified cases worldwide that year.
In France, authorities arrested six people in early February in a kidnapping plot tied to a crypto ransom. The target was the partner of a crypto entrepreneur.
French authorities charged 25 suspects across multiple cases involving kidnappings, attempted kidnappings, and ransom demands throughout 2025.
KYC Data as a Target
Know Your Customer data, or KYC data, is collected by financial platforms to verify user identity. It typically includes government ID, address, and other personal details.
This type of data is valuable to bad actors because it can be used to identify and locate individuals. When combined with knowledge of crypto holdings, it can make users targets for extortion.
The Revolut case shows that insider threats, not just external hackers, can put this data at risk.
Revolut was one of the most downloaded financial apps in Western Europe in 2024, with a 7% market penetration rate, according to its own annual report.
The company has not said whether the former employee has been arrested or charged.
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