🔥⚡According to reports, a recent police operation in Paris, France, led to the rescue of a man held hostage. The victim, the father of an unnamed entrepreneur in the cryptocurrency field, was freed during a raid on May 3, resulting in the arrest of five individuals. Reports from Le Monde and Le Parisien indicate that the kidnappers demanded between 5 million and 7 million euros, equivalent to up to 7.9 million dollars, for his release. The victims, whose identities remain undisclosed for security reasons, are involved in the ownership of a Malta-based cryptocurrency marketing company. This incident resembles the kidnapping of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, in January 2025 in France, who was also held for cryptocurrency ransom before being rescued by authorities.
This case is part of a disturbing trend of ransom attempts targeting individuals associated with cryptocurrencies, who are seen as possessing significant wealth. In November 2024, the CEO of WonderFi, Dean Skurka, was kidnapped in Toronto, Canada, and forced to pay a ransom of one million dollars in cryptocurrency. Similarly, in February 2025, six individuals in Chicago, Illinois, were charged with kidnapping a family and their nanny, demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency. The FBI reported that the suspects managed to enter the family's home by pretending to damage their garage door, after which they kidnapped them for five days and extorted 15 million dollars in cryptocurrency for their release.
In another alarming incident, online broadcaster Amouranth was targeted in a home invasion in March 2025. Armed suspects held her at gunpoint in Texas, demanding access to her cryptocurrency. Four individuals were charged and arrested in connection with this crime. These incidents highlight an increasing pattern of kidnappings linked to cryptocurrencies and ransom demands, underscoring the need for enhanced security measures for those involved in the cryptocurrency industry. As these cases rise, law enforcement agencies worldwide are urged to bolster their efforts to protect potential targets and prevent such crimes.
