While I don't have any issues with been public about the amount of btc you own, I would advice you stay cautious because people have actually been tracked down, almost killed, some killed because of their btc holdings.
In 2022, a very close friend of mine narrowly escaped been killed because he spoke about his bitcoin holding on a Twitter space, this particular incident is not on any media nor was it even reported to the law enforcement agency because I come from a 3rd world country. He went totally off grid by deleting all his social media account since that incidence and rarely even use the internet today. What happened was that after the space, he observed he got some good amount of twitter follower, little did he know that a serial killer was among, he was been trailed and monitored until they got his location and sought him out. Dude was coming back home from the supermarket when he was attacked, he thought it was a usual robbery until the perpetrator demanded for his phone and asked him to open his Xverse wallet(Unknown to them that he had a hard wallet and there was only a little holding in that Xverse wallet). The little amount he had there, about $1k was withdrawn to another wallet immediately and they dealt with him so badly after that, luckily, he wasn't killed but seriously injured and had to take himself to the clinic after the incidence, infact when narrating to me, he said they had guns and one of the guys said he should be killed but the others disagreed and they left him. This is not a fiction, true life story. Begged him several times to come online and share his ordeal but he has refused adamantly every time, I hope one day he can share so others can learn.
I also took time to research incidence across the world of people murdered which was traced to the bitcoin holdings, here's a few:
1. Kyiv, Ukraine (2024):
A 29-year-old Bitcoin trader was kidnapped and murdered after assailants targeted him to steal ~3 BTC (worth ~$200,000). You can find full news on 'The Block'
2. South Africa (2018)
A man named Andrew was lured under false pretenses, tortured (burned with hot irons), and threatened with death until he gave up his btc wallet credentials.
3. Oslo, Norway (2018)
A 24-year-old was found murdered in his apartment after selling a large amount of Bitcoin for cash. Investigations from local security unit suggested that the homicide was connected to that transaction.
4. Manhattan, USA (2025)
A crypto investor was charged with kidnapping and torturing a victim over several weeks to obtain his Bitcoin password. Physical abuse, threats, and use of a gun were said to have been involved
I am sure there are several others like my friend that unaccounted for on the media, some killed and never lived to tell the story like my friend, some badly injured and lost their btc holding . All in all, its a cruel world out there, so as much as possible try stay anonymous especially now that btc is actually worth a fortune.
Are there other incidence you heard about or aware of either through the media or personally?
Can you share with us so we can all learn?
Yes. It's tragic. But that comes as a result of disclosing one's Bitcoin holdings in public. Or by simply announcing you're a Bitcoiner. You must be very low-profile, not to attract unwanted attention. Especially when it comes to something as valuable as Bitcoin. Would you imagine anyone announcing he/she is a Gold bug or one who owns Gold? It will put his/her life at risk. Totally not worth it. I remember an influencer called "Amouranth" who was ordered to hand over her crypto at gunpoint by a few teenagers. That was a few months ago.
As it's said in the real world, "keep it secret, keep it safe". Just live a normal life without ever mentioning you hold Bitcoin or are involved in it. Keep your public addresses hidden from plain sight, and there should be nothing to worry about.
