In the fall of 2025, Roman Novak, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur from St. Petersburg, and his wife Anna were murdered in the United Arab Emirates. The criminals sought to gain access to Novak's cryptocurrency wallet, but when they found it empty, they committed a double homicide. The couple was lured into a private home in Hatta, about 130 kilometers from Dubai, under the pretense of meeting potential investors that turned out to be the perpetrators.

The Novak couple, along with their personal driver, arrived at a meeting arranged by a supposed representative of "investors". The representative, posing as an employee, suggested they go to a private house where the investors awaited. Regrettably, this encounter marked the last time they were seen alive. Inside the home, the assailants demanded access to Novak's cryptocurrency wallet; after he complied and revealed the access, they found it to be void of funds, prompting them to kill both him and his wife.

This tragic incident sheds light on the ongoing dangers associated with cryptocurrency investments and the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit perceived wealth. The investigation into the murders underscores the risks involved in the cryptocurrency space, where scams and violence are increasingly prevalent, especially in areas with lax regulations regarding digital currencies.