France Crypto Kidnapping quickly when it comes to recent times

French police are investigating a series of violent kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families, with ransom requested in digital currencies.

France has become a focal point for a disturbing wave of kidnappings targeting individuals linked to the cryptocurrency industry. Since last year, the country has represented 7 of the 54 global kidnappings linked to cryptography, a disproportionate part for a nation representing only 1% of the world’s population.

The last incident, an attempted removal of the daughter of a CEO of Crypto and her child in Paris on May 13, 2025, underlines the growing threat to the cryptographic community. These crimes, often marked by extreme violence such as the separation of the fingers, aroused fear and caused urgent action by the French authorities.

A series of violent abductions

The most recent high level affair took place on May 13, 2025, when a masked gang tried to kidnap the daughter of an eminent leader of Crypto and his two -year -old child in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Video sequences, widely shared online, have shown women to resist fiercely, disarm an attacker and escape with the help of passers -by.

“Just in: According to the Perisian, there was an attempted removal of relatives of a CEO of Crypto Exchange in Paris today.

This follows several incidents in France in recent months. pic.twitter.com/s7tnosyydk

– Office area (@coinbureau) May 13, 2025

The attackers fled, but the incident highlighted the audacity of these crimes, occurring in broad daylight in the capital.

A few days earlier, on May 4, 2025, French police saved the father of a millionaire of cryptocurrency from a house in Palaisseau, south of Paris. The victim, in the fifties, had been kidnapped on May 1 and had cut a finger in captivity. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 5 million euros at 7 million euros in cryptocurrency, according to Le Monde. Four suspects were arrested following a police descent.

In January 2025, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a cryptocurrency portfolio company valued at more than $ 1 billion, was removed with their home partner in Méreau, in the center of France. The couple was separated and Balland had a cut finger. The kidnappers sent a video of the finger cut to the Balland trading partner, demanding a ransom of 10 million euros in cryptocurrency. French police, helped by the national elite Gendarmerie Intervention Group, released Balland during a raid, and his partner was found attached to a car in Essonne the next day. Ten suspects were arrested.

Modus Operandi: Target families for cryptographic ransoms

These kidnappings follow a frightening scheme: criminals target family members of wealthy cryptographic entrepreneurs to take advantage of their wealth in digital assets. The use of cryptocurrency for ransoms is a key factor, because its pseudonym nature complicates tracing transactions, making it an attractive tool for extortion. Michael Lyons, a lawyer specializing in money laundering at Clifford Chance, noted that “cryptographic transactions are more likely to escape the level of control applied to traditional banking systems”.

The violence used – such as the separation of the fingers – appears to instill fear and ensure compliance. A post X summed up the trend: “A few months ago: the co-founder of Ledger has kidnapped. They cut his finger to extort his partner.

Last week: the father of an influencer of an removed – tactical crypto. A few days ago: attempted removal of the daughter of a CEO of Crypto. »»

Response from police and government

The French authorities responded quickly to these incidents. In the case of May 4, the police traced the victim using telephone signals, leading to successful rescue and arrests. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, adopted a proactive position, meeting cryptographic entrepreneurs on May 16, 2025, to discuss security measures. The government has promised improved protections, including priority access to emergency police lines, home safety assessments and anti-drypto training on the money laundering for the police.

Retailleau, which could position itself for a presidential race in 2027, underlined the government’s commitment: “These repeated kidnappings of professionals in the cryptographic sector take place with specific tools, both immediately and in the short term, to prevent, dissuade and hinder in order to protect the industry”. These measures aim to reassure the cryptographic community and maintain France’s reputation as a hub for technology and innovation.

Fear and anger in the cryptographic community

The series of kidnappings let the cryptographic community of France shake up. Alexandre Aimonino, a framework of cryptography, expressed his anxiety: “After looking at frightening images of a prominent French crypto girl who was attacked in a street in Paris during a sloppy abduction, I find comfort in the changes that I brought to my daily routine”. Some, like user x @Xmaximistmoved to safer regions, citing security problems: “security was the main reason that made me move my family to water”.

The wave of kidnappings linked to the crypto highlights the vulnerabilities of wealth in the digital age. The anonymity of cryptocurrency, although a force for privacy, makes it a tool for criminals, as seen in these extortion systems. Incidents could remove the image of France as a welcoming destination for technological innovation, a priority for the administration of President Emmanuel Macron.

In addition, the targeting of family members raises ethical questions about the visibility of cryptographic entrepreneurs. High -level figures in the industry may have to adopt stricter personal security measures, such as limiting public exposure or improving private security. The government’s response, although proactive, will have to balance immediate protections with long -term strategies to combat crime linked to cryptography.

The abductions linked to the crypto of France represent a dark intersection of technology and crime. The violent tactics employed by the kidnappers, associated with the use of the cryptocurrency for the ransoms, created a climate of fear within the cryptographic community. While the French police have demonstrated its effectiveness in the rescue of victims and suspects, the improved security measures of the government will be essential to restore confidence. While the cryptography industry continues to grow, these incidents recall a reminder of the need for robust security protocols and regulatory executives to protect people at the forefront of digital innovation.

Key incidents