Rooch network co-founder robbed in Bangkok ahead of Ethereum Devcon

A crypto co-founder was robbed in Bangkok while traveling there to attend the 2024 Ethereum Devcon conference. 

Haichao Zhu, co-founder of Bitcoin application Rooch Network, urged Ethereum Devcon attendees to exercise caution in a Nov. 5 X post after being robbed at knifepoint in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to Zhu, he was attacked while he was traveling alone after his late-night arrival in Bangkok. The assailants stole his phone and left him with a minor scratch on his hand.

Zhu remained unharmed but expressed disappointment with the local police response, sharing that he spent the entire night at the police station without resolution.

In his warning, Zhu urged fellow Devcon attendees to stay alert, especially after dark, adding “Bangkok is still a safe and fun place just like all other places, you gotta watch out for the darkness.”

Jole Star, Rooch Network’s second co-founder, mentioned in a separate X post that he and Haichao Zhu would be reaching out to local shops near the crime scene to review surveillance footage, though he acknowledged it might be challenging to identify the assailants.

He also advised attendees to avoid going out alone at night and avoid using their phones while walking to minimize risk.

Ethereum Devcon, is the Ethereum Foundation’s biggest annual gathering, with the seventh edition of the conference set to begin from November 12, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. 

Key figures like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum Foundation executive director Aya Miyaguchi, and Portugal’s former secretary Bruno Macaes, among other prominent leaders in decentralized tech, will attend the event.

Far from an isolated event, a similar attack occurred during July’s Ethereum Community Conference in Brussels. Rishant Kumar, Kilt Protocol’s head of growth and an attendee at the conference, warned of “thugs targeting crypto folks,” recounting his own experience fending off an attacker.

A concerning trend has emerged this year, with several attempted robberies targeting individuals with connections to cryptocurrencies. In August, eleven Israeli tourists were attacked and $700,000 worth of Bitcoin was stolen from them.

Just a month before, a 29-year-old was murdered after attackers forced him to transfer nearly 3 Bitcoins.