France is shaken by a series of brutal kidnapping attempts targeting the crypto elite, raising concerns about national security and urgent warnings in the industry.
France has charged 24 individuals in a multimillion-euro cryptocurrency conspiracy involving kidnappings
French authorities reported on Tuesday that 24 people were arrested this week in connection with a series of kidnapping attempts targeting influential figures in the cryptocurrency sector, as reported by AFP, citing an unnamed source close to the case. Operations carried out by the organized crime unit were linked to three separate conspiracies—two in Paris and one in the western region near Nantes. Officials confirmed that the suspects were apprehended at different events, shedding light on an increasingly dangerous trend for entrepreneurs in the digital asset space in the country.
Among the incidents examined was the kidnapping on May 1 of the father of a crypto millionaire in Paris. Four masked individuals seized the man in front of witnesses and forcefully shoved him into a van, resulting in injuries during the process. His kidnappers demanded several million euros in ransom until French police conducted a raid at a home in Essonne on May 3 and rescued him. Six people have been charged in this case.
Another dramatic attempt occurred on May 13 when the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange Paymium, narrowly escaped kidnapping in Paris. The attack gained widespread attention after a video surfaced on social media. Authorities confirmed that all individuals involved in this attempt were arrested. A third attempt was thwarted just before it could be carried out on May 26 in the Nantes area, although officials did not disclose details about the alleged victims or circumstances.
These revelations follow the kidnapping on January 21 of David Balan, co-founder of the crypto company Ledger. Balan was disfigured during his kidnapping, and his partner was found bound in the trunk of a car before their release. At least nine suspects have been charged in this case.
