Crypto Executives Targeted in Rising Kidnapping Wave
A disturbing trend of crypto-linked kidnappings is escalating across Europe and the U.S., with executives and their families increasingly becoming targets. This surge in violent crime is highlighted by recent high-profile cases.
In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife were abducted in France. The attackers reportedly severed Balland's finger and demanded a ransom from his business partner. More recently, French police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur who had been held captive in an Airbnb for two days, with kidnappers demanding up to €7 million in crypto. A video of the victim's mutilation was sent to his son, and five suspects had been arrested.
The violence isn't limited to Europe. In Las Vegas, three Florida teenagers allegedly kidnapped a man after a crypto event, forcing him into the desert at gunpoint and stealing $4 million from his crypto wallets.
In response to this growing crisis, French police recently arrested over a dozen suspects believed to be part of a criminal network responsible for multiple abduction attempts, including one targeting the daughter of an exchange CEO. As a result, private security firms are seeing increased demand from crypto professionals seeking protection, and French authorities have implemented emergency measures, including security briefings and direct police access, to combat the deepening crypto kidnapping crisis in 2025.
