New research has assessed the risks faced by high-net-worth holders of cryptocurrency across 15 countries, highlighting notable differences in threat environments worldwide.
The Executive Crypto Threat Index (ECTI), developed by security specialists at Hyperion, uses a composite metric to score countries according to the risk to crypto investors. The index combines four key dimensions: cybercrime, physical safety, telecommunications vulnerability, and exposure to Bitcoin ATMs.
Key global findings
According to the ECTI, Russia, the United States, and Brazil are listed as the riskiest countries for wealthy cryptocurrency holders in 2025. In contrast, Japan and Singapore are among those with the lowest composite risks.
The United States ranks first globally for Bitcoin ATM exposure, with more than 31,000 such machines. The country also reports significant cases of cybercrime targeting crypto holders, and has experienced high financial losses as a result. The UK has seen a substantial increase in SIM-swap fraud, with Cifas noting a 1,055% rise, pushing it higher in the index rankings for telecommunications-related vulnerability. Japan and Singapore are considered the safest, benefitting from strict SIM registration requirements, low levels of violent crime, and minimal exposure to ATMs.
Country rankings
ECTI uses a scoring system, combining cyber, physical, telecommunication, and exposure risks out of 100. The findings are as follows:
- Russia: ECTI score of 66.87
- United States: 66.86
- Brazil: 60.05
- Indonesia: 48.71
- Australia: 46.99
- Canada: 46.70
- Germany: 43.65
- United Kingdom: 43.12
- Hong Kong: 42.21
- UAE: 35.88
- South Korea: 34.60
- India: 34.17
- Japan: 34.05
- Switzerland: 31.39
- Singapore: 27.28
Factors behind the scores
The ECTI methodology assigns a 35% weighting to cybercrime, 40% to physical safety, 15% to telecommunications risk, and 10% to crypto ATM exposure. The data draws on crime reports, homicide statistics, SIM-swap numbers, registration laws, and ATM density, verified internationally through sources including Chainalysis, UNODC, Cifas, CoinATMradar, and national regulatory agencies.
Each nation's score reflects a particular risk profile shaped by both digital and real-world threats. The results indicate that executives and investors with substantial digital wealth face a complex landscape, with overlap between cybercrime, physical danger, and regulatory factors.
For the first time, we can see how cyber, physical, and telecom threats overlap for crypto wealth. The ECTI highlights why wealthy crypto executives must be as concerned with personal safety as they are with portfolio security.
This was stated by Adam Gonzales, Chief Executive Officer of Hyperion.
Detailed national profiles
Russia's combined physical and cyber risks propel it to the top of the ECTI table. The country has a homicide rate of 8.2 per 100,000 people, and currently holds a Level 4 travel advisory from the United States State Department, indicating the highest level of caution. Chainalysis reports have repeatedly highlighted Russia as a centre for ransomware activity and illicit crypto flows. While only about 26 Bitcoin ATMs are in operation, the index finds that the risk from crime outweighs the exposure from in-person access points.
The United States, while comparatively safer in terms of homicide rates (6.8 per 100,000), features the highest number of Bitcoin ATMs globally, boosting its exposure score. US Federal Bureau of Investigation data show reported crypto losses totalling USD $9.3 billion in 2024, and nearly 1,000 SIM-swap complaints leading to losses of close to USD $26 million. These factors, combined with high levels of cybercriminal activity, result in its high overall risk rating.
Brazil's leading risk factor is violent crime, with a homicide rate of 25 per 100,000 - the highest among the countries in the index. Although the country has a relatively low Bitcoin ATM presence, the index finds that threats from violence, extortion, and kidnapping are the primary dangers to crypto investors. Official travel advice rates Brazil at Level 2, but Hyperion suggests that this may underestimate the dangers for those with substantial digital assets.
Patterns in safer countries
Japan and Singapore lead in terms of safety. Both countries demonstrate low homicide rates, strict SIM card registration policies, and minimal ATM exposure. These measures contribute to a comparatively secure environment for crypto holders, both in cyberspace and in public life.
Methodology and data
The ECTI draws its conclusions from various official and industry sources, using a blend of quantitative data and regulatory assessments. Cyber risk metrics include victim concentration and per capita losses; physical risk is evaluated based on homicide statistics and travel advisories. Telecommunication risk scores come from SIM-swap complaints, growth rates, and the presence or absence of mandatory ID requirements for SIM purchase. The index considers ATM exposure relative to the population size, as verified by international ATM databases.
Where data was incomplete or missing, baseline assumptions were used, such as applying mandatory ID law status for telecommunications risk or referencing the most recent available crime figures. All comparative data was as current as possible as of September 2025.
