Crypto markets staged a powerful rebound on Thursday morning with a 3.7 percent surge across major assets helping restore momentum after last week’s turbulence.
Bitcoin jumped nearly five percent to break above $91,000, while Ethereum climbed more than four percent to reclaim the $3,000 mark. Real-world asset (RWA) tokens, Layer-2 networks, and selective altcoins also posted outsized gains.
Yet beneath the renewed market optimism, fresh concerns are emerging about a different kind of vulnerability, one that cannot be solved by software updates or protocol upgrades.
A recent home invasion in San Francisco, in which a tech investor was robbed of $11 million worth of crypto at gunpoint, has reignited debate about the growing physical risks facing digital asset holders.
The incident, first reported by the SF Standard, involved an assailant posing as a delivery worker who gained access to the investor’s home by asking for someone named Joshua and requesting to borrow a pen.
Once inside, the intruder bound the victim with duct tape, seized his cellphone and laptop, and forced him to hand over digital wallet credentials, effectively handing the thief direct access to his crypto holdings.
Read also: Crypto market jumps 3.7% as bitcoin breaks $91,000, ethereum reclaims $3,000
The episode struck a nerve across the industry, particularly because crypto transfers occur instantly and irreversibly, unlike bank transactions that often face verification checks or mandatory delays.
Security experts say this immediacy, long viewed as one of crypto’s biggest advantages, is increasingly becoming a double-edged sword as criminals evolve their tactics.
David Schwed, a cybersecurity expert and former chief information security officer at Robinhood, said investors must rethink how they protect their digital assets. “The best thing is to keep your crypto somewhere that is not easily available for a transaction when you’re under duress,” he said, advising users to establish multistep approval processes and store physical wallets in bank deposit boxes. Some experienced holders even keep a small decoy wallet to appease attackers.
The chilling event comes on the heels of a May data breach at Coinbase, where overseas customer service agents stole user names, phone numbers, and home addresses. Although Coinbase says the incidents are unrelated, the combination of targeted theft and exposed personal data is heightening unease.
Meanwhile, the market’s recovery continues to build. Layer-2 standout Merlin Chain soared more than 130% in 24 hours, while the RWA index rose four percent on strong performances from Pendle, Sky, and Ondo. Dash rallied 17 percent following a new OKX spot listing, and meme tokens recorded modest gains. Digital asset ETFs also saw inflows, with Ethereum leading at $60.82 million on November 26 and Bitcoin adding $21.12 million.
For many investors, Thursday’s market rally was a welcome relief. But the violent theft in San Francisco is a reminder that digital wealth comes with real-world risks, risks that the crypto industry must now confront as part of its next phase of maturity.
