Reporting · technology
Oxford kidnapping leads to partial recovery of stolen crypto via UK order
Five masked men seized over $2 million in crypto from Evan Luthra in Oxford, and a UK court order has since led Binance to return roughly $370,000.
Quick take
- Evan Luthra was kidnapped in Oxford, England, and five masked men seized over $2 million in crypto.
- A UK court order under the Proceeds of Crime Act led Binance to return roughly $370,000 of the funds.
- The order is the first of its kind directed at Binance, marking a notable step in recovering stolen crypto.
BeInCrypto reported that Evan Luthra was kidnapped in Oxford, England, after an event in the city. The attack took place on November 4, 2025, when five masked men seized crypto valued at more than $2 million. Police have valued a watch involved in the case at around £450,000.
Luthra says that the delay he faced without his phone cost him the most. Funds were also drained from a Binance account, with more than $1.5 million taken, while about $600,000 in ETH was removed from a Gate account.
A UK court order made under the Proceeds of Crime Act led Binance to return roughly $370,000, and the order is the first such order directed at Binance. The London firm Cooke, Young & Keidan handled the recovery effort. MEXC, meanwhile, blocked funds and shared data on the remaining assets.
The details available describe the amounts involved and the court process, but they do not say whether anyone has been charged in connection with the attack.
Sources
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