Paris Abduction Attempt on Crypto CEO Family Highlights Physical Risk

An attempted abduction targeting family members of the CEO of a prominent cryptocurrency exchange was successfully thwarted in Paris this week. The alarming incident has brought renewed focus to the increasing physical risks faced by individuals associated with the digital asset space, extending threats beyond the digital realm into the physical world.

Details of the Attack

The event unfolded on May 13, 2025, within the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Three masked individuals reportedly attempted to forcibly take the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat into a waiting van. However, the intended victims and bystanders offered resistance, ultimately disrupting the attackers’ plan.

Local reports indicate that a man accompanying the victim sustained injuries during the struggle while attempting to intervene. Crucially, the female victim managed to disarm one of the assailants, seizing their pistol and discarding it. Following the intervention by passersby, the perpetrators fled the scene in a vehicle that was later located abandoned. Police transported all three individuals involved to the hospital.

The incident was noted by local news outlets:

En plein Paris, un homme a été violenté par des individus cagoulés, habillés tout en noir. Ils tentaient de l’enlever. Un homme a surgi, extincteur à la main, pour les faire fuir. →https://t.co/P0qV6PR40v pic.twitter.com/9f4r2Gi7ho

— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) May 13, 2025

Investigation and Link to Crypto Activities

The investigation into the attempted kidnapping is being handled by the Brigade against Banditry, a specialized unit within French law enforcement. Authorities suspect the attack was pre-planned and specifically linked to the family’s professional activities within the cryptocurrency sector. This reinforces concerns that wealth generated or held in digital assets can make individuals and their families targets for physical crime.

Rising Trend of Offline Attacks

The Paris incident is not isolated but rather indicative of a disturbing, growing pattern of physical attacks and abductions directed at cryptocurrency owners and their families. Michael Englander, head of the Polish crypto exchange Plasbit, characterized the event as a “disturbing signal” for the entire industry. He issued a strong caution to crypto entrepreneurs, advising them to avoid publicizing their involvement in the sector online to protect their loved ones.

Englander delivered a stark warning: “If you’re involved in crypto and continue to parade it online, you’re not just being foolish, you’re putting your family at risk.”

Expert Observations and Recent Examples

Experts and recent data underscore the increasing prevalence of these real-world threats, sometimes colloquially referred to as “wrench attacks.” According to Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Casa, more than 20 such cases have been documented since the beginning of the year. He highlighted the rapid escalation of this trend, indicating that individuals holding crypto assets may not feel secure even in traditionally safe environments.

Research, including a study from Cambridge University, confirms that physical threats against crypto holders are becoming more diverse. These incidents often go unreported, partly due to victims’ fear of potential future retaliation. The range of perpetrators is broad, spanning from organized criminal syndicates to individuals known personally by the victims.

Recent months have seen multiple high-profile cases illustrating this trend globally:

• In November 2024, teenagers in Las Vegas allegedly kidnapped a man and stole $4 million in digital assets.
• In January, a co-founder of Ledger was reportedly abducted in France.
• Earlier the same month in France, the father of another crypto businessman was also reportedly kidnapped.
• A similar event occurred in Canada, where the CEO of WonderFi was allegedly seized in downtown Toronto for a reported $1 million ransom.
• Another incident involved the theft of nearly 250,000 USDT from an individual in Thailand through an offline attack.

These incidents collectively paint a concerning picture of the evolving security challenges faced by individuals within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, requiring heightened vigilance regarding personal safety and online presence.