In a distressing development from Bangkok, Haichao Zhu, co-founder of the Rooch Network, fell victim to a knifepoint robbery perpetrated by two assailants just days ahead of the much-anticipated Ethereum Devcon conference. This incident casts a shadow on the safety of attendees at crypto conferences worldwide, as it follows a worrying trend of similar attacks against participants of such events in various global locales.
The altercation took place in the early hours at 4:30 AM local time as Zhu navigated the city alone after a late arrival by flight. Though he emerged unharmed, the theft of his phone during the assault has raised alarms over the safety of conference attendees traveling alone in Bangkok during the night.
Taking to a public platform to share his ordeal, Zhu advised fellow attendees with a cautionary reminder about the perils that can lurk in unfamiliar environments, stating, “Generally speaking, Bangkok is still a safe and fun place, but just like all other places, you gotta watch out for the darkness.” This statement underscores an unfortunate reality that attendees of international conferences must maintain vigilance, especially during nighttime.
This incident adds to a growing list of security concerns reported by participants of major crypto gatherings, including a series of unfortunate events earlier this year at the Ethereum Community Conference in Brussels. These included violent confrontations, with one individual managing to fend off an attacker near the venue, while another was less fortunate, sustaining an injury during a robbery. Most alarming was a report of an attendee having a gun pointed at their head during a similar incident.
These series of incidents highlight the pressing issue of security at large-scale international events, particularly as Devcon 7 is set to commence in Bangkok from November 12-15 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The conference is expected to draw significant attention, featuring prominent figures from the Ethereum community, including co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation executive director Aya Miyaguchi.
Participants and organizers alike are now faced with the critical task of ensuring the safety and security of all attendees, as the industry prepares to converge on Bangkok for what is considered the pinnacle event for Ethereum developers and enthusiasts.