In Seoul, the Eastern District Prosecutor’s Office has charged a 39-year-old man with attempted murder and violations of pesticide regulations. According to the investigation, the suspect attempted to poison his business partner due to significant losses from Bitcoin investments.
This is reported by Business • Media
Poisoning at a Cafe After Financial Conflict
The incident occurred on November 23, 2025, at a cafe near Lake Sokkchon in the Songpa-gu district. It was there that the suspect handed his partner a coffee, which prosecutors believe was laced with methomyl—a banned toxic insecticide.
The victim collapsed almost immediately after consuming the drink and was taken to the intensive care unit, where he spent three days in a coma. Doctors managed to stabilize his condition, but the man remains under medical supervision.
“The prosecution believes that the man poisoned his partner in light of losses from cryptocurrency investments.”
According to law enforcement, the men had been collaborating since 2022, jointly managing a business and raising funds through investment programs related to Bitcoin. The conflict between the partners escalated when one of them lost over $811,000 on personal investments and was unable to recover the invested money.
Crimes Amidst Cryptocurrency Market Decline
The investigation notes that tensions between the business partners increased against the backdrop of a sharp decline in Bitcoin’s value. At the time of the poisoning, the cryptocurrency’s price had dropped nearly a third from its previous all-time high of around $126,000. This significantly affected investors, intensifying financial and psychological pressure.
At the time of this report, Bitcoin’s price is holding steady at $65,500.
Prosecutors believe that the suspect purchased the poisonous substance in advance and began planning the attack after the management of their joint finances shifted to his partner. The first court hearing in this case is scheduled for March 10, 2026, at the Eastern District Court of Seoul.
Experts note an increase in crimes related to crypto assets. There have been reports of physical pressure on investors, threats, kidnappings, and assaults aimed at gaining access to digital wallets. Analysts link this trend to the rising value of cryptocurrencies and the lack of centralized control over assets.
It is worth noting that similar incidents have occurred in the past, including the murder of the son of the deputy mayor of Kharkiv over crypto assets in Austria.