The FBI has joined local California investigators in the ongoing probe into the disappearance of 74-year-old Naiping Hou, the father of hedge fund and cryptocurrency investor Wen Hou. Federal authorities recently became involved in the case of the missing Rancho Cucamonga resident, whose family believes his disappearance could be linked to their success in the cryptocurrency business.
Background on the Family
Wen Hou serves as the chief investment officer at Coincident Capital. In 2022, he and his wife, who live in Las Vegas, contributed $1.1 million in cryptocurrency to the USC Keck School of Medicine to fund heart disease research. Naiping Hou was last seen in his hometown on March 18, 2025, and was officially reported missing on May 4, 2025. Detectives later determined that someone impersonated him using his cellphone for over a month.
Foul Play Suspected
“Possible foul play is suspected, as his bank accounts were depleted prior to law enforcement being notified about his disappearance,” FBI officials said in a news release. His loved ones previously told KABC that the kidnapping could be tied to the family’s crypto success.
Son’s Concerns
“I miss him a lot,” Wen Hou said about his father in July 2025. “He’s sort of a guide to my life.” In a previous LA Times interview, Wen Hou said he became concerned about his father in April 2025 when his text messages in the family group chat began to feel robotic. Naiping Hou became increasingly withdrawn, less communicative, and refused to visit his grandchildren. Wen Hou’s concerns escalated around his father’s May 3 birthday when he suspected someone else might be controlling his phone. His father declined to travel to Las Vegas and did not respond to calls. Instead of reacting warmly to a gift of handmade Chinese noodles sent to his Rancho Cucamonga home, a text from Naiping Hou’s phone simply read, “Yes I received it.”
Discovery at the Home
The out-of-state son asked family friends to check on his father the following day. Upon arrival, they reportedly found the unopened noodle package left on the doorstep. Inside the home, they discovered that the residence appeared largely cleared out, with all furniture removed and a poorly done interior paint job. Investigators determined that someone had been using Naiping Hou’s phone to impersonate him and carry out extensive fraudulent bank transactions, including purchasing gold bars online. Wen Hou said that was unusual since his father was not tech-savvy and had never bought gold before.
Reward and Appeal
A tip website Wen Hou created to find his missing father remains active, offering a $250,000 reward. Anyone with information on Naiping Hou’s case is asked to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
