{"id":18494,"title":"CEO of Major UK-Based Cryptocurrency Exchange Kidnapped in Cryptocurrency","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2017-12-28T17:39:02+00:00","modified":"2017-12-28T17:39:02+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ceo-of-major-uk-based-cryptocurrency-exchange-kidnapped-in-cryptocurrency/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ceo-of-major-uk-based-cryptocurrency-exchange-kidnapped-in-cryptocurrency.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ceo-of-major-uk-based-cryptocurrency-exchange-kidnapped-in-cryptocurrency.json","category":"Fintech","categories":["Fintech"],"tags":["Bitcoin","cryptocurrency"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Stencil-Google-Chrome-2023-04-19-at-2.47.43-PM.jpeg?fit=1231%2C615&quality=89&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"**Pavel Lerner**, a prominent Russian blockchain expert and known managing director of one of the major crypto-exchanges EXMO, has allegedly been kidnapped by “unknown” criminals in the Ukranian capital of Kiev.\n\nAccording to Ukraine-based web publication [Strana](https://strana.ua/news/114106-v-kieve-pokhitili-rossijskoho-ajtishnika.html), Lerner, 40-year-old citizen of Russia, was kidnapped on December 26 when he was leaving his office in the centre of town (located on the Stepan Bandera Avenue).\n\nUnknown kidnappers in dark clothes and balaclavas dragged Lerner in their black Mercedes-Benz Vito brand (state number AA 2063 MT) car and drove away in an unknown direction.\n\n![](https://www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/emo-300x171.jpg)\n\nThe information comes from an anonymous source in Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, though multiple investigations are currently underway to find out why and by whom Lerner was kidnapped.\n\nLerner is a recognized IT specialist in Ukraine who led a number of startups related to blockchain technology development and mining operations.\n\nLerner is also the managing director of [EXMO](https://exmo.com/en/), a major UK-based cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013 and well-known with Russians for accepting ruble payments.\n\nLaw enforcers in Kiev have begun an investigation and are currently conducting search operation, working out all possible leads in the case which is described as the kidnapping.\n\nEXMO’s representatives confirmed media reports in a statement to a local crypto journal [BitNovosti](https://bitnovosti.com/2017/12/27/pohitili-izvestnogo-rossijskogo-spetsialista-po-blokchejnu-i-kriptovalyutam/) and appealed for any information that could lead to the finding of Lerner.\n\nThe company representatives also assured its customers that EXMO operations were not affected by the incident and that Lerner did not have direct access to any cryptocurrency account or other personal data.\n\n> “We are doing everything possible to speed up the search of Pavel Lerner. Any information regarding his whereabouts is very much appreciated,” PR-department of EXMO said.\n\n> “Despite the situation, the exchange is working as usual. We also want to stress that nature of Pavel’s job at EXMO doesn’t assume access either to storages or any personal data of users. All users funds are absolutely safe.”\n\nLerner case has been considered to be yet another case involving a Russian national with cryptocurrency background.\n\nIn July this year, [Alexander Vinnik](https://thehackernews.com/2017/07/btc-bitcoin-exchange.html), a 38-year-old Russian citizen and operator of cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, was detained in Northern Greece at the request of US law enforcement authorities. The Greece court in October also [ruled to extradite Vinnik](https://thehackernews.com/2017/10/bitcoin-money-laundering.html) to the United States.\n\nThe US authorities accused Vinnik of crimes related to the [hack of Mt. Gox](https://thehackernews.com/2015/08/mtgox-bitcoin-exchange.html), which was shut down in 2014 following a massive series of mysterious robberies, which totalled at least $375 million in Bitcoin.\n\n![Mohit Kumar - Hacking News](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcJ5B2Ef4XI/WfmDODTd_sI/AAAAAAAAulM/ygE0rvjXQl4GgE4r936WyAFkiyVP12B0gCLcBGAs/s1600/mohit-kumar-the-hacker-news-min.jpeg)\n\n[Mohit Kumar](https://twitter.com/unix_root) ** ** ** ** ** **\n\nEntrepreneur, Hacker, Speaker, Founder and CEO — **[The Hacker News and The Hackers Conference.](https://thehackernews.com/2017/12/crypto-exchange-kidnap.html)**"}