Father of Crypto Entrepreneur Rescued After Brutal Kidnapping in France

French authorities have rescued the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur who was abducted in Paris and held for ransom in a violent incident tied to crypto-related crime. The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was kidnapped Thursday morning by four masked individuals and held hostage for two days in an Airbnb located approximately 12 miles south of the capital.

According to BFM TV, the kidnappers sent a disturbing video to the victim’s son—an active figure in the crypto space—showing the victim with one of his fingers severed. They demanded a multi-million euro ransom in exchange for his release.

Following an intensive investigation, French police arrested five suspects aged 23 to 27. Authorities are now pursuing charges including organized extortion and criminal conspiracy, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office confirmed.

This latest abduction echoes a series of violent incidents targeting individuals connected to the crypto industry in Europe. In January 2025, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped from their home in central France. Balland also had a finger severed, with a ransom video sent to his business partner.

Similarly, in December 2024, the wife of crypto investor Stéphane Winkel was abducted from their home in Belgium. She was later rescued after a high-speed police pursuit led to the kidnapper’s arrest.

While it remains unclear whether these cases are connected, experts have noted disturbing similarities in methods used. “There’s clearly a link in the modus operandi,” said internal security expert Guillaume Farde on French television. “Whether it’s the same group remains to be seen.”

The case highlights a growing trend of targeted violence against figures in the crypto industry, emphasizing the need for heightened personal security and awareness.

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