Imagine waking up to find your entire crypto portfolio, 1.2 million XRP, gone overnight. That’s exactly what happened to Brandon LaRoque, a longtime XRP investor who lost $3 million in a single hack. In this emotional and brutally honest episode of the Efani Features Podcast, host Mark Kreitzman sits down with Brandon to unpack one of the most devastating crypto theft stories of 2025 - and the hard lessons every investor must learn before it's too late.

This isn’t just a cautionary tale. It’s a wake-up call for anyone using hardware wallets, storing crypto long-term, or assuming they’re "too small to be targeted."

🔐 In this episode:

• How a cold wallet turned into a hot wallet without Brandon realizing it — and how the attackers exploited that
• The chilling timeline: 1.2M XRP drained within minutes, split across dozens of wallets, and laundered globally
• What the FBI, Secret Service, and Homeland Security said — and why victims get little recourse
• The dark truth about “pig butchering” scams, Southeast Asia crypto rings, and AI-powered phishing
• The moment Brandon realized everything was gone — and how he’s turning tragedy into public education
• Why Efani and Tangem are stepping in to support Brandon and other victims with secure tools and giveaways

You’ll also hear Brandon’s firsthand tips on what he wished he knew, how to avoid the same mistake, and what cold wallet users need to double-check right now — especially if they use companion apps.

💥 Giveaway:
Efani is giving away a free Tangem 2-card cold wallet to a lucky listener.
To enter: Comment on the YouTube video (U.S. only, 18+).
[Details shared during the episode.]

🎁 Special Offers:

• 10% off with Tangem promo code: EFANI
• 15% off Tangem Ring: use 15OFFRING
• Stack both for 25% off total (limited time) when you also sign-up for Efani.

📱 Secure your SIM with Efani: https://efani.com
🔐 Learn about Tangem Wallets: https://tangem.com
🎙 Hosted by Mark Kreitzman, General Manager at Efani