$3m crypto heist is behind this dive bar’s comeback

Retired and moving to Las Vegas, former owner of the Goat Bar Brandon Laroque had $3 million of crypto stolen from his portfolio.

He'd run the dive bar for decades, and had squirreled away money here and there over the years, which eventually amassed to $3 million in XRP.

In October 2025, he logged in to his crypto wallet to find nearly his entire portfolio gone.

Laroque noticed a $25 worth of crypto was initially transferred out of his account, seemingly as a test, followed by $3m moments later. Tracking the currency on the blockchain, Laroque estimated that the money was split between 500-900 different crypto wallets.

Laroque shared the entire store on YouTube on his own personal channel, in hopes of helping anyone else and preventing future fraud.

His videos have generated hundreds of thousands of views and commentary from crypto creators, along with several commenters chiming in with opinions on how the portfolio should have been secured.

To rebuild his retirement, Laroque is re-opening The Goat dive bar in Raleigh. He and his wife Amanda were the longtime owners of the business that closed in 2024.

They plan to debut as soon as possible, bringing the popular spot back with updated finishes, new equipment and a refreshed interior.