A longtime XRP investor has shared a shocking story — his entire $3 million digital fortune vanished from his cold wallet within minutes.
The case was first revealed by Digital Asset Investor (@digitalassetbuy) on X, linking to a YouTube video by the victim, Brandon, a 54-year-old from North Carolina, USA. In the video, Brandon recounted the horrifying moment he discovered that more than 1.2 million XRP — his and his wife’s retirement savings — had been stolen.
A Morning of Shock and Panic
Brandon described himself as a cautious investor: he stored his private keys securely, avoided sharing personal data online, and used an Ellipal cold wallet for maximum safety. Yet one Sunday morning, he woke up to find his entire XRP balance gone.
According to his account, the thief first made several small test transactions before transferring all his tokens into a newly created wallet, which then quickly split the funds into hundreds of other addresses — a move suggesting a highly coordinated and skilled attack.
Brandon immediately reported the theft to the FBI via the IC3 portal and contacted his local sheriff’s office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). However, he said these agencies lacked the resources to handle such a sophisticated cybercrime.
A Desperate Search for Recovery
Following the theft, Brandon turned to online companies advertising “stolen crypto recovery services.” But most demanded upfront fees or hefty commissions, leaving him unsure whom to trust.
“Some say they’re legitimate, others say they’re scams,” Brandon admitted, echoing the confusion and despair that many victims face after losing their crypto assets.
He continues to wait for a response from federal authorities, while Digital Asset Investor has called on blockchain experts within the community to help track the stolen XRP.
A Stark Warning for Crypto Holders
Brandon’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of personal security in crypto asset management. Although cold wallets are widely regarded as the safest storage option, any flaw in setup, firmware, or key management can become a vulnerability.
Experts urge investors to:
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Regularly check their cold wallet balances and firmware status.
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Never store seed phrases digitally or in any form accessible online.
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Update firmware only through official releases and verified sources.
With more than $3 million in XRP stolen in mere minutes, Brandon’s case stands as a painful lesson that in the world of cryptocurrencies, absolute safety is a myth.
