Cryptocurrencies
Skycoin Founder Claims in Suit He Was Extorted, Kidnapped
- Web marketers accused of extortion in civil racketeering suit
- Former consultant named in suit calls claims ‘absurd,’ ‘weird’
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The creator of the cryptocurrency Skycoin claims a former consultant and others tried to extort tens of millions of dollars with ransomware attacks, organized a plot to kidnap him and his girlfriend, and conspired to undermine the $5 billion market for the digital token.
Brandon Smietana, the founder of Singapore-based Skycoin Global Foundation Ltd., made the allegations in a civil racketeering lawsuit Wednesday filed against Bradford Stephens, Harrison Gevirtz and almost a dozen others, including two journalists that Smietana accused of defaming him with stories they wrote. Smietana is seeking unspecified damages.