Recent incidents targeting individuals within the cryptocurrency sector in France have prompted a direct response from the highest levels of government. Acknowledging a disturbing trend of attacks and attempted kidnappings aimed at crypto entrepreneurs and their families, French authorities are signaling a proactive approach to enhance security measures and raise awareness about the escalating risks faced by this community.
France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, has called for a crucial meeting with representatives from the cryptocurrency industry. Scheduled to take place this Friday at the Ministry of the Interior, the gathering aims to address the pressing security concerns. The primary objective is to collaborate on developing effective protection strategies and ensure industry participants are fully apprised of the evolving threat landscape.
Rising Wave of Attacks
This initiative follows a series of violent crimes targeting individuals associated with the crypto business:
– May 13, 2025: In Paris, three masked attackers attempted to abduct the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of the French crypto exchange Paymium. The attempted kidnapping was thwarted by the woman’s resistance and the intervention of passers-by. Both the daughter and grandson sustained minor injuries.
– January 2025: David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped and subjected to torture in an effort to force them to transfer cryptocurrency. Balland required hospitalization for a hand injury sustained during the ordeal. Police subsequently apprehended multiple suspects, including the alleged mastermind behind the attack.
– May 3, 2025: Near Paris, the father of a crypto millionaire was kidnapped with the demand for a substantial ransom, reportedly between €5 million and €7 million. A swift police operation successfully rescued the hostage and led to the arrest of seven suspects involved in the plot.
Minister Retailleau emphasized the dual focus of the government’s strategy: protecting crypto industry figures within France and pursuing perpetrators internationally. He stated the commitment to finding attackers, regardless of their location. While not directly linked to France, authorities elsewhere are also grappling with similar crypto-related crime, such as a case where Ukrainian police uncovered a plot originating from Croatia to kidnap a family member for access to a significant crypto wallet. The French government’s meeting underscores the growing global challenge of safeguarding individuals in the increasingly valuable cryptocurrency space from targeted criminal activity.
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