🚨 Breaking News: €2 Million in Bitcoin Stolen in Violent Paris Attack 💥August 5, 2025
💡 Modus Operandi:
Five suspects abducted a luxury hotel guest, beat him near the Arc de Triomphe, and stole an iPhone plus a hard drive containing €2M in Bitcoin — allegedly to force repayment of a €40K nightclub debt.
👤 Victim & Location:
The victim, identified only as “a Parisian man”, was staying at the Peninsula Hotel on Avenue Kléber in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. Around 7:15 p.m. on August 5, he was forcibly taken from the hotel and assaulted near the Arc de Triomphe.
👮 Arrests Made:
Police from the anti-crime brigade acted within hours, arresting all five suspects in the 8th arrondissement. The men are believed to be linked to a nearby nightclub and were allegedly attempting to collect a €40,000 debt from the victim.
⚖ Possible Charges:
The suspects are currently in custody on suspicion of extortion. They were transferred to the First District Police headquarters, and the case is now led by the Anti-Banditism Brigade. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that investigations and hearings are ongoing.
🇫🇷 Notable Crypto Kidnappings in France
🩸 Jan 2025 – David Balland: Ledger co-founder kidnapped with wife; Balland lost a finger. Rescued next day. 10 arrests, suspects face possible life terms.
🚲 May 2025 – Paymium CEO’s Family: Daylight attack on CEO Pierre Noizat’s daughter & grandson; foiled by bystanders. Minor injuries only.
🕵️ May 2025 – Crypto Influencer’s Father: Kidnapped, later rescued; suspects arrested.
🚗 Dec 2024 – Saint-Genis-Pouilly: Influencer’s parents attacked at home; father found in car trunk 700 km away. 5 arrests (ages 17–22).
⚠ 2025 – Nantes & Other Plots: Multiple attempts stopped, incl. more targeting Noizat’s family. 25 charged, 6 minors; 18 in detention.
💭 Question: With repeated high-profile abductions and extortion, is France still safe for crypto holders — or now a European hotspot for digital-wealth crime? #Kidnapping