A software entrepreneur attending one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency conferences in Singapore said he was attacked while walking home late at night.
Nate Geier, the co-founder of a software development company, shared that he woke up in a hospital with facial injuries after what he described as a robbery following Token2049, the annual crypto gathering held at Marina Bay Sands from 29 September to 8 October.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on 3 October, Geier uploaded a photo showing severe bruising on the right side of his face and a cut on his nose.
He wrote:
“Consider myself a seasoned traveller. Just remember waking up in a hospital, very scary. Must have gotten jumped walking home. Passport and ring gone. Be careful out there at Token2049.”
The post has now garnered more than 1.9 million views.
Geier later confirmed the incident occurred around 11pm and said he “never lost memory like this”.
He filed a police report on 3 October and planned to follow up at the police headquarters on 6 October.
While many in the crypto community sent well wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery, others expressed doubt about Geier’s claims.
Commenters noted that Singapore is “very, very safe” and heavily monitored with CCTV cameras, questioning the likelihood of such a robbery and asking for proof of the incident.
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, expressed shock at the report, tweeting,
“Wow, SG is one of the safest cities in the world. Shocked this could happen there. Be safu out there crypto bros. And get well soon.”
Geier responded, thanking him for the concern and confirming that authorities were investigating the matter.
The incident comes as Singapore continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in crypto engagement.
A recent report by ApeX Protocol ranked the city-state as the most “crypto-obsessed” nation, with 24.4% of its population owning digital assets and more than 2,000 crypto-related searches per 100,000 people.
Adoption in Singapore more than doubled between 2021 and 2022, ahead of the United Arab Emirates, where 25.3% of the population owns crypto with a 210% adoption rise since 2019.
In November 2024, just days before Devcon 7 in Bangkok, Rooch Network co-founder Haichao Zhu was robbed at knifepoint by two assailants shortly after arriving in the city following a late-night flight.
Although he escaped without physical injury, the attackers stole his phone, prompting Zhu to warn others on social media about the risks of travelling alone at night.
Similar incidents were reported earlier that year at the Ethereum Community Conference in Brussels, highlighting growing safety concerns for participants ahead of major industry gatherings.
Social media reactions to Geier’s reported attack revealed a sharp split in opinion.
While many expressed concern for his well-being and wished for a swift resolution, others questioned the authenticity of his account, pointing to Singapore’s strict law enforcement, extensive CCTV coverage, and reputation as one of the safest cities in the world.
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The discussion highlighted both sympathy for the developer and scepticism about security risks at major international crypto events, sparking a broader conversation on personal safety even in countries considered low-risk.
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