Inside the Lavish Bitcoin Heist: 5-Star Hotels & Vanishing Millions
▼ Summary
– Kent Halliburton felt uneasy while counting 10,000 euros in an Amsterdam hotel bathroom, questioning his involvement in the situation.
– Halliburton is CEO of Sazmining, a bitcoin mining-as-a-service company operating globally from Peru with facilities in multiple countries.
– He traveled to Amsterdam to meet representatives from a Monaco family office interested in purchasing $4 million worth of bitcoin mining rigs for Ethiopia.
– The family representatives appeared as wealthy, high-roller types, with one being talkative and the other aloof during their three-course lunch meeting.
– As a relationship-building exercise, Halliburton participated in an unusual cash transaction for bitcoin that felt like a scene from a James Bond movie.
Finding yourself counting a stack of cash in a luxury hotel bathroom might sound like a scene from a spy thriller, but for one bitcoin mining executive, it was the start of a multi-million dollar ordeal. This bizarre encounter in Amsterdam’s upscale Rosewood Hotel marked the beginning of a sophisticated scheme targeting the cryptocurrency industry.
Kent Halliburton, cofounder and CEO of Sazmining, had traveled from his base in Peru to meet potential clients representing a wealthy Monaco-based family office. His company, which provides bitcoin mining services using facilities in Norway, Paraguay, Ethiopia, and the United States, was negotiating a massive equipment sale. The proposed deal involved roughly $4 million worth of bitcoin mining rigs destined for a new facility in Ethiopia.
Upon arriving at the hotel on August 5, Halliburton was greeted by two men who introduced themselves as Even and Maxim. They presented themselves as quintessential high-rollers. Maxim, in particular, stood out wearing a tailored tan three-piece suit, his long dark hair meticulously styled, with a Rolex visible beneath his sleeve. Their demeanor suggested a lifestyle of extreme luxury and excess.
Over an elaborate three-course lunch featuring ceviche, Chilean sea bass, and cherry cake, the conversation flowed between business and personal backgrounds. Even proved talkative and jovial, sharing anecdotes about extravagant parties in Marrakech. Maxim remained noticeably reserved, frequently locking eyes with Halliburton in an intense, evaluating manner that felt more like an appraisal than casual conversation.
As what was framed as a relationship-building gesture, Even suggested Halliburton sell the family approximately $3,000 in bitcoin. Though initially hesitant, Halliburton interpreted the request as an unusual business custom. One of the men handed him an envelope stuffed with 10,000 euros and directed him to the restroom to count the money privately. Reflecting on the moment, Halliburton described the situation as feeling “like something out of a James Bond movie,” noting how exotic and surreal the entire experience seemed at the time.
(Source: Ars Technica)