a16z: With frequent reports of violent kidnappings, how can blockchain professionals protect their personal safety?

The number of violent crimes in the crypto assets field is increasing, with kidnappings and armed robberies occurring frequently. A former U.S. Secret Service agent shares 35 years of security experience, teaching you how to stay alert in daily life and the crypto industry, establish protective habits, and avoid becoming the next target. This article is based on a piece written by Carl Agnelli, organized, translated, and authored by Wu Shuo Blockchain. (Background: The founder of the Cold Wallet Ledger was suspected of being kidnapped for a Bitcoin ransom? There are rumors in the community, but the person has not responded.) (Background supplement: A man mistaken for a Bitcoin whale narrowly escaped kidnapping, targeting his child forced the whole family into a life of fleeing.) Imagine your family being kidnapped from home, or you being forcibly shoved into a car by an armed assailant, or even having your finger cut off by the assailants as ransom demand. These scenarios are unsettling, even cruel, but they are not hypothetical. These events have happened for real — and are happening to some people in the crypto assets field. I want to share some practical lessons to help crypto assets founders, operators, and investors stay safe in this increasingly dangerous world. I will focus on two core security areas: daily habits and the unique violent crimes in the crypto industry. But first, I will start with some basic principles and a few real cases. Why spend time discussing this? Founders, operators, and engineers focus on building companies, and investors are busy managing portfolios. But if you do not consider security issues — personal safety, nothing else matters. This is not just about your own safety; it concerns your team, family, and work. Security must become part of your operating system. I have worked in the security field for 35 years, spending 25 years in the U.S. Secret Service (U.S. Secret Service), holding various positions, including protecting every sitting U.S. president. I have also protected foreign heads of state (even those I do not agree with). The rule is simple: no one should die on U.S. soil. But the Secret Service does not just protect. It is the only agency in the U.S. government with a dual mission of protection and investigation. Many of the world's top cyber investigators come from here. I have been involved in global multinational investigations, surveilling others and being surveilled myself. You learn many tricks in this process, becoming a master at observing human nature, learning how to interpret others, spot flaws, and identify risks before threats occur. 1. Basic Principles of Personal Safety Here are some guiding principles: 1. Avoid conflict whenever possible: If someone is behaving oddly, leave the scene. Change to another train car, cross the street. Do not let your ego get in the way; your pride will not save you. 2. Trust your instincts: That uneasy feeling does not come from nowhere. It is your autonomic nervous system warning you — increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating. Your body is trying to protect you. Listen to it. 3. Anticipate the unexpected: We call it 'Murphy moments' (Murphy moments). When things go wrong, they usually escalate quickly. You cannot predict every scenario, but you can mentally rehearse. 'What if something happens?' is your best defense. 4. Invest in safety: We spend two hours reading Amazon reviews to choose a water bottle. Spend five minutes learning how to protect your home when you leave. 2. Situational Awareness: Maintain a 'Yellow State': In the Secret Service, we use color coding to describe the attention state of the target (i.e., you) in public places: White: Unaware, distracted — like walking with headphones on. Vulnerable. Yellow: Relaxed alertness. Stay vigilant but not overly tense. This is the state you should maintain. Orange: High alert — used for active threat scenarios. Black: Panic, paralysis. You never want to enter this state. In the Secret Service, we often say 'leaning into the yellow' (leaning into the yellow), meaning to maintain a relaxed alert state. Train yourself to live in a yellow state. You do not need to be paranoid, just stay attentive. You might notice someone on the train talking to themselves or wearing a heavy coat in 30-degree weather. You do not panic but choose to leave. You do not want to be in a white state — completely distracted, wearing earbuds, engrossed in your phone. Even less do you want to fall into a black state — freezing up in panic.