Crypto Billionaire Couple Found Dead and Dismembered in UAE
In a chilling twist of crime, the dismembered remains of Russian cryptocurrency billionaires Roman Novak and his wife Ana have been discovered in the deserts outside Dubai. The incident has sent shockwaves through both the crypto community and international law enforcement circles and reveals a darker more gruesome side of the industry which is rifled with ransom, kidnappings, targeted crime and murder that is bringing to light the darker side of digital wealth.
Last Known Sighting
Roman and Ana Novak originally from St. Petersburg, Russia vanished in early October while living in the United Arab Emirates. The couple was last seen on October 2nd when their driver dropped them off near a lake in Hatta. It is a well known scenic mountain resort on the border with Oman. They were reportedly heading to meet “unidentified investors” a meeting that would prove fatal.
According to reports, after stepping out of their car the couple entered another vehicle and were never seen alive again. Two days later, their phones were still active in the Hatta area, then later detected across the border in Oman and finally in Cape Town, South Africa, before going silent on October 4.
When the Novaks stopped communicating, their relatives contacted police, fearing foul play. Weeks later, their worst fears were confirmed when dismembered human remains were found in the Dubai desert. Investigators identified them as Roman and Ana Novak.
Kidnapped and Killed For Crypto Wealth
Authorities believe the couple was lured into a trap under the guise of a business meeting. Once kidnapped, their captors demanded access to Roman’s cryptocurrency wallets as they believing he held billions in digital assets. When their extortion attempt failed, the kidnappers allegedly tortured and murdered both victims, dismembering their bodies and attempting to hide the remains.
Russian media, including Fontanka and 78.ru, reported that the perpetrators used knives during the attack. After the murders, they allegedly disposed of the weapons and the couple’s personal belongings across different emirates to erase evidence.
The case’s brutality has drawn comparisons to organized crime hits from the early days of cryptocurrency, where fortunes made in anonymity often attracted dangerous attention from those seeking a quick profit.
Who Were Roman and Ana?
Roman Novak 42, and his wife Ana were well known among Russia’s nouveau-riche crypto elite. The pair flaunted their wealth on social media, showcasing luxury cars, designer fashion and private jet trips. Their circle reportedly included high profile figures, including Telegram founder Pavel Durov.
However, Roman Novak’s story was not one of pure success. He was a convicted fraudster that was sentenced to six years in prison by a St. Petersburg court in 2020 for a large scale cryptocurrency fraud scheme involving a trading platform called Transcrypt. The project had embezzled about 4 million from investors. Novak was released on parole and relocated to Dubai in 2023.
In the UAE, Novak founded another crypto startup called Fintopio which promised rapid blockchain transfers and cross-border transactions. Reports indicate he raised around 500 million from investors across Russia, China and the Middle East before allegedly disappearing with the funds.
Following an international investigation, at least three Russian citizens have been arrested in St. Petersburg in connection with the killings Konstantin Shakht, a former police officer along with Yury Sharypov and Vladimir Dalekin. All three are accused of orchestrating the abduction and murder, while four additional suspects allegedly acted as financial intermediaries in money laundering operations.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which confirmed opening a criminal case into the murder, said the suspects had rented cars and a villa in Hatta to carry out the kidnapping. After failing to secure the ransom, they murdered the couple, fled to Russia and attempted to hide evidence.
While some Russian media outlets initially claimed the bodies had not been found, sources later confirmed that containers containing human remains matching the Novaks’ DNA were located near a shopping centre in Hatta.
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Posted Using INLEO