A South Korean man is reportedly facing prison time after allegedly poisoning his business partner with pesticide-laced coffee amid a dispute over more than $816,000 in cryptocurrency investment losses.
The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office has charged a man in his 30s with adding the pesticide methomyl to his partner’s drink during a meeting at a café in November, according to local media reports. After consuming the beverage, the victim reportedly lost consciousness and collapsed, later regaining consciousness three days after being hospitalized.
Dispute tied to crypto investment losses
Beginning in 2022, the two men allegedly ran an investment operation that managed Bitcoin trading programs. Tensions escalated after the accused allegedly incurred losses totaling 1.17 billion Korean won (about $816,000), including company funds he had personally invested. The alleged victim subsequently took control of the firm’s finances.
Speaking to local media, the unnamed victim said that at the time of the alleged poisoning he was preparing for marriage and that his wife was in the early stages of pregnancy. He said the incident severely impacted his family, though he continues to receive medical treatment.
The case is set to be heard on March 10 at the Seoul Eastern District Court, where the defendant faces charges of attempted murder and violations of South Korea’s Pesticide Control Act.
The incident comes as South Korea’s crypto sector has operated in a comparatively supportive regulatory climate following the June election of President Lee Jae-myung, who has advanced several digital asset initiatives, including legislation aimed at legalizing stablecoins.
The domestic market has since expanded significantly, with crypto exchange users surpassing 16 million last year — more than 30% of the population — during a period of record highs in digital asset prices.
However, the broader crypto market experienced a downturn in late 2025. Bitcoin fell sharply from its October peak above $125,000 to below $90,000 by late December and has since declined further, recently trading around $65,500.
