In a dramatic incident on Tuesday morning in Paris, the daughter of a prominent cryptocurrency company CEO narrowly avoided being kidnapped along with her young child. The event unfolded around 8:20 a.m. in the 11th arrondissement, where three masked men attempted to forcibly abduct the woman from the street by pushing her toward a white van disguised with a fake delivery logo.
The woman was accompanied by her partner and their two-year-old child when the assailants struck. Her partner bravely intervened despite being physically assaulted with blunt objects, managing to thwart the kidnapping attempt. During the struggle, one of the attackers dropped a semi-automatic weapon, later identified as an Airsoft gun. The kidnappers fled the scene after bystanders began to react, with one witness throwing a fire extinguisher at the attackers, who then escaped in their vehicle. The abandoned van was found nearby on a side street.
Authorities have confirmed the woman is the daughter of Pierre Noizat, CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a pioneering French cryptocurrency exchange established in 2011. The Paris Brigade for the Repression of Banditry has taken over the investigation, exploring potential financial motives linked to the family’s involvement in the crypto industry.
This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of kidnappings and extortion attempts targeting cryptocurrency figures and their relatives across France and Europe. Recent months have seen multiple cases, including the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and the abduction of a crypto entrepreneur’s father, both involving ransom demands paid in cryptocurrency.
Law enforcement agencies warn that organized crime groups are increasingly focusing on crypto investors, using violent tactics to extort digital assets. The Paris attack highlights the growing security risks faced by individuals connected to the cryptocurrency sector in major cities worldwide.