Crypto Conferences: A Security Risk for Participants in the Face of Rising Threats

Participants of cryptocurrency conferences often overlook basic security measures, making themselves easy targets for criminals, warned Nick Perkoko, head of security at Kraken.

Perkoko noted that he frequently observes unlocked laptops and unattended phones belonging to representatives of prominent crypto projects at industry events. Meanwhile, wallet notifications continue to appear on the screens of these devices in real time.

*“If you work with cryptocurrencies, your digital device is not just a phone or laptop. It serves as a vault for you, your assets, and your employer’s operational activities,”* stated Perkoko.

He strongly advised participants to keep their devices close and to lock them when not in use.

Perkoko also reminded everyone of a fundamental principle in the cryptocurrency world:

*“Cryptocurrencies, by nature, provide the opportunity to be your own bank. Achieving promised financial freedom becomes incredibly challenging if personal and operational security are not prioritized.”*

According to him, scammers actively attend events, creating fictitious identities and registering under false names. Among their favored tactics is «juice jacking,” where malware is installed through public USB charging stations, as well as compromising or replacing Wi-Fi networks.

*“There are many tech-savvy individuals at crypto events, including hackers. It only takes one malicious actor to exploit an unsecured connection,”* Perkoko emphasized.

QR codes also pose a potential threat. Although Perkoko has not encountered such incidents personally, criminals can substitute a legitimate code with a counterfeit one leading to a phishing site.

To mitigate risks, the Kraken representative suggests using a separate “spending” wallet with a limited amount of funds at conferences.

The exchange’s security team also pointed out that some attendees openly discuss their cryptocurrency earnings and carelessly display personal information—such as wearing name badges with company titles beyond the conference area.

Such carelessness is particularly dangerous given the rising number of physical thefts of digital assets, as well as kidnappings and extortions aimed at members of the crypto community. Casa CTO Jameson Lopp maintains a list of offline robberies on GitHub. This year, he has already documented 29 such incidents worldwide.

It’s worth noting that in May, several individuals suspected of bitcoin extortion were arrested in three different countries.