PANews reported on May 17 that, in light of the recent increase in kidnapping incidents related to cryptocurrencies in France, cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families will receive enhanced security measures. The French Ministry of the Interior stated that these measures include priority access to the police emergency hotline, home visits, and security briefings provided by law enforcement to offer best practice advice. Law enforcement personnel will also receive 'anti-cryptocurrency asset money laundering training.' Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated in a statement: 'In response to the repeated kidnappings of professionals in the cryptocurrency industry, we will take immediate and short-term concrete measures to combat this and protect the industry.'
Since the beginning of this year, there have been at least three incidents of kidnapping leaders in the cryptocurrency industry or their family members in France. Previously, it was reported that France will hold a security meeting for the cryptocurrency industry to address the series of kidnapping incidents. This decision follows an attempted kidnapping incident that occurred in Paris on May 13, where the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur were attacked on the street by four masked assailants, fortunately escaping with minor injuries. It is reported that the woman is the daughter of the co-founder and CEO of the French cryptocurrency trading platform Paymium. In recent years, there have been multiple kidnapping cases related to cryptocurrency wealth in France, including the kidnapping and torture of Ledger co-founder David Balland in January this year.
