Why the Nancy Guthrie kidnappers would want Bitcoin

When the 5 p.m. PT ransom deadline passed this week following the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, investigators were still grappling with a crucial uncertainty: Was the Bitcoin demand real — and if so, who sent it?

In two unverified notes sent to the media, the sender claimed to have kidnapped the 84-year-old mother. Today Show shelter Savannah Guthrie and set a deadline for her family to pay a ransom in Bitcoin. Law enforcement officials said they took the messages seriously but have not confirmed their authenticity or received proof of life. There is no evidence that the Guthrie family was targeted for holding cryptocurrency.

Authorities said they did not know why she was kidnapped or whether her daughter’s fame played a role. But the demand for Bitcoin – whatever the motive – reflects a broader global shift in the way criminals demand ransom payment.

While high-profile kidnappings are extremely rare in the United States, organized crime syndicates in Latin America, Asia and West Africa are known to engage in kidnappings. This has led to a growing kidnapping insurance industry. And for kidnappers, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin provide an attractive vehicle for paying ransoms, for a variety of reasons. There is no evidence that the Guthrie family was targeted for holding cryptocurrency.

“Bitcoin is much easier to launder than cash,” wrote Stephen Findeisen, a YouTuber and crypto investigator known online as Coffeezilla, in an email to Mashable. “A Bitcoin wallet that you can create brand new, receive your money on demand without it being traced back to you personally, and then launder through mixers, privacy coins, or decentralized exchanges that don’t implement KYC (know your customer) restrictions.”

Another attraction, according to experts, is the irreversibility of crypto exchanges.

Paul Sibenik, CEO of Cryptoforensic Investigators, explained that from a kidnapper’s perspective, Bitcoin eliminates many of the friction points associated with traditional ransom payments. “No need for an in-person meeting or deposit of money…completely digital,” he wrote to Mashable via email. Unlike bank transfers, which can sometimes be reversed or reported, “the Bitcoin transaction, once posted on the blockchain, cannot be reversed and is immutable.”

He added that there is “no custodian or entity that could freeze the Bitcoin in the kidnappers’ wallet,” meaning that once the funds are transferred, they are there for good.

This purpose is at the heart of the appeal. According to Chainalysis data cited by the BBC, more than $3.4 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen in 2025, with around $713 million linked to hacks, scams or coercion of individuals. Attacks targeting individuals have doubled in recent years.

Physical extortion followed the money. A security assessment from 2025 warned that “crypto kidnappings are happening every week,” as criminals turn to violence to extract digital wealth that cannot be recovered once transferred.

Sibenik noted that even if Bitcoin is traceable on the public ledger, that doesn’t necessarily deter criminals. “Just because Bitcoin is much more traceable doesn’t mean it would be much harder to launder Bitcoin than cash,” he wrote, pointing to loosely regulated exchanges and services that can obscure trails.

In Nancy Guthrie’s case, investigators are still trying to determine whether the person demanding Bitcoin is even connected to her disappearance. Retired FBI agents told ABC News that negotiators typically look for proof of life before considering payment.

For the moment, the motive for his kidnapping remains unclear. What is clear is that Bitcoin has become a default ransom currency – not necessarily because victims are crypto holders, but because criminals increasingly view it as the most efficient way to get paid.