Bitcoin jumps to $79.6k and crypto expert shot dead in busy Brazilian airport

As Bitcoin continues its incredible bull run even during the weekend, there was a sensational assassination of a crypto expert in Brazil on Friday. At Sao Paolo airport, Antônio Vinicius Gritzbach, a former criminal and crypto expert who had promised his cooperation with authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence, was shot dead in broad daylight. Members of a reputed criminal organization called First Capital Command shot at everyone in the terminal just to get their man and wounded three others.

The footage from the security cameras at Sao Paolo airport, where Antônio is seen trying to escape his killers, is quite remarkable.

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Garantex

Unfortunately, the connection between crime and crypto has existed for some time. Earlier this year, an obscure Russian crypto platform called Garantex found itself in the eye of the storm due to its connection to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

According to research by the Wall Street Journal, the funding for that attack was partly paid by Iran and ended up with Hamas through Garantex.

The Russian crypto platform would normally not be allowed to operate due to European and US sanctions, but the Kremlin leaves it untouched.

PCC

This time, the subject of crypto was linked to the criminal Brazilian organization called Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) or First Capital Command. They made millions in recent years through drug trafficking and prostitution and had the money laundered by Antônio, a crypto expert who converted it into Tether, Ethereum and Bitcoin.

Crypto businessman killed in apparent assassination at São Paulo airport https://t.co/VnPWZ0R3Od

— The Guardian (@guardian) November 8, 2024

He has been in contact with the judicial authorities quite often in recent months to make a deal in exchange for a reduced sentence. In this way, he exposed how he had set up a money laundering practice for the criminal organization. However, the PCC sent assassins to settle the score, it seems.