How a Group of Minecraft Kids Stole $238,707,068 in Bitcoin

In a heist that shocked the crypto world, a trio of former Minecraft players turned cybercriminals stole over $238 million in Bitcoin from a Genesis Global Capital creditor. What started as a bold scheme quickly escalated into a high-stakes operation involving social engineering, crypto laundering, and a luxurious spending spree. But as with most criminal endeavors, their story didn’t end well. Here’s how it all went down.

Photo by GuerrillaBuzz on Unsplash

The story starts with a Discord call between three friends — Whiz, Danny, and Box — plotting their way into the crypto wallet of a creditor in Washington. This creditor, who loaned out Bitcoin, was one of the top lenders associated with Genesis Global Capital, a company that had recently filed for bankruptcy.

Danny, armed with detailed databases on crypto players, identified the perfect target. The creditor’s funds were partially stored in a Gemini exchange account, providing an opening for their plan.