After a high-profile case of torture for crypto keys, Ohanae offers a safer path: one where your crypto asset securities and stablecoins are protected—even when you're not
In June 2025, The New York Times reported a shocking and disturbing crime: a man was kidnapped and tortured for nearly three weeks by individuals who wanted just one thing—his crypto wallet credentials.
This wasn't a digital hack. It was a brutal, physical attack. The victim was restrained, electrocuted, and threatened—all to obtain access to his private key.
This horrifying incident highlights a critical weakness in the way most digital assets are stored today. While blockchain technology is secure, how individuals protect their keys often is not. Too many wallets rely on memory, seed phrases, or USB cold storage devices that can be compromised in moments of danger.
At Ohanae, we believe crypto asset securities custody must be designed to withstand not just cyberattacks, but real-world threats. And we’ve built our platform accordingly.
The Problem: Crypto That Can Be Taken by Force
In most crypto wallets, if someone gains access to your private key or recovery seed phrase, they gain control over your entire wallet. That’s true whether the information was hacked—or coerced through physical intimidation.
In the NY Times case, the victim had memorized his recovery phrase. His attackers knew that. And they went to horrific lengths trying to force him to reveal it.
When someone's safety is on the line, no one should be expected to protect their assets with willpower alone.
The Ohanae Answer: Security That Protects You, Not Just Your Wallet
Ohanae is designed to eliminate the risks that standard wallets expose users to. Our platform uses an entirely different approach—one that keeps your assets safe, even if you're under pressure.
1. You Can't Give Up What You Don't Know
On the Ohanae platform, your private key is never visible to you—or anyone else. It’s securely encrypted and stored on your personal devices (like your mobile phone or laptop). It can’t be written down, memorized, or revealed under duress.
This means even if someone takes your phone, they still can't unlock your wallet. And even if someone tries to force you to give up your key—you can't, because you never had access to it in the first place.
2. Safe Recovery Without Risk
Most wallets use recovery phrases: 12 or 24 words that must be written down or remembered. If those words are lost or stolen, so are your assets.
Ohanae does things differently. We use a private and proprietary recovery process that lets you regain access to your account if needed—but prevents anyone else from doing so, even if they gain access to your devices or communication.
We won't go into technical detail here (our method is a trade secret), but the result is clear: you stay in control, without carrying the risk.
3. Reclaim What's Yours with Force Transfer
If an Ohanae account is ever compromised, the platform offers a unique capability: Force Transfer.
This allows our compliance team—under tightly governed conditions—to reverse unauthorized transactions and return your assets to safety.
It's a blockchain-based failsafe that public blockchains can't match. Once a transaction is approved, it can be undone if it was made under duress or through unauthorized access.
This feature alone can make the difference between total loss and full recovery.
OUSD: A Stablecoin That's Actually Safe
Not all stablecoins are created equal. Most are backed by opaque reserves, operate outside regulatory frameworks, or can't be traced once transferred.
Ohanae Coin (OUSD) is different:
- OUSD is backed 1:1 by U.S. dollar cash, held in a regulated Special Reserve Account (SRA) that is FDIC insured.
- It is issued under SEC Rule 15c3-3 by Ohanae Securities LLC, a Special Purpose Broker-Dealer (SPBD), pending FINRA approval.
- All OUSD users are fully verified with KYC/AML checks, including proof of identity and address.
- Every OUSD transaction is recorded and traceable, enabling cooperation with law enforcement if necessary.
If OUSD is ever stolen or misused, we can trace it, freeze it, and assist in recovery—something traditional crypto simply cannot offer.
A Platform Built for People, Not Just Protocols
Most crypto wallets are designed to withstand computer-based attacks. Few are prepared for the human realities of theft, fraud, coercion, or worse.
Ohanae is built differently—because we believe safety should extend beyond the screen.
| Traditional Crypto Wallets | The Ohanae Platform |
| Seed phrases can be memorized, stolen, or forced out | No seed phrases to remember |
| Loss of device or phrase = loss of funds | Private, secure account recovery |
| No recourse if funds are stolen | Force Transfer can reverse fraud |
| Anonymous and untraceable | Fully verified users and transactions |
| No compliance or oversight | Built on a regulated framework |
If the NYT Victim Had Used Ohanae for His Digital Asset Securities and Stablecoins…
- He wouldn't have known or been able to reveal his private key.
- Attackers wouldn't have been able to extract anything useful.
- Even if his assets were moved, Ohanae could have frozen the account and restored the funds.
- Law enforcement could have been supported with verified identity and traceable records.
This isn't speculation—it’s exactly what the Ohanae platform was built to do.
Final Word: Real Protection in a Real World
The cryptocurrency industry has long focused on decentralization and control—but too often, it has overlooked one thing: human safety.
At Ohanae, we've designed our custody platform for reality. A reality where keys get lost, people are targeted, and security must extend beyond passwords.
Whether you're managing digital securities or stablecoins, Ohanae ensures that your assets are protected—even when you're not.
It’s not just custody. It's peace of mind.
Confidence. That's Ohanae.
Disclaimer
Ohanae Securities LLC is a subsidiary of Ohanae, Inc. and member of FINRA/SIPC. Additional information about Ohanae Securities LLC can be found on BrokerCheck. Ohanae Securities LLC is in discussions with FINRA about exploring the expansion of business lines for the broker/dealer. Any statements regarding abilities of Ohanae Securities LLC are subject to FINRA approval and there are no guarantees FINRA will approve the broker/dealer's expansion.
Ohanae Securities is seeking approval to be a special purpose broker-dealer that is performing the full set of broker-dealer functions with respect to crypto asset securities – including maintaining custody of these assets – in a manner that addresses the unique attributes of digital asset securities and minimizes risk to investors and other market participants. If approved, Ohanae Securities will limit its business to crypto asset securities to isolate risk and having policies and procedures to, among other things, assess a given crypto asset security's distributed ledger technology and protect the private keys necessary to transfer the crypto asset security.