France: A Former Crypto Trader Kidnapped, His Kidnappers Demanded 10,000 Euros

Should we expect the police to follow crypto investors right into their living rooms? In France, as elsewhere, holding a loaded digital wallet is becoming a living target. Wealthy crypto holders are no longer just anonymous behind a screen: they now arouse both greed and aversion. The recent case of a former trader kidnapped for 10,000 euros attests to this: crypto attracts formerly discreet covetousness, and the wealthy are now in the kidnappers’ sights.

When 10,000 Euros Are Worth a Life, a Bewildering Crypto Ransom

In May, a raid helped dismantle a criminal network involved in several kidnappings targeting crypto entrepreneurs in France. This collective arrest, carried out after several months of investigation, did not deter isolated acts. The sum of 10,000 euros demanded for the release of a man kidnapped between Paris and Saint-Germain-en-Laye is striking.

It is a surprisingly low amount for a profile already linked to crypto, a sector known for sudden fortunes. The ex-trader, aged 35, is named Alexandre; with a bruised face, he recounts having been strangled until losing consciousness.

Sent to Algeria, the kidnapping message included a photo of the victim, on his knees. The kidnappers seemed to use rudimentary but effective methods: phone geolocation, express kidnapping. The investigation is just beginning, but the police are already working to collect traces and clues on the victim’s skin and clothes.

His wife was contacted and stated that her husband left the home Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. to go to work. She revealed that this former trader had worked partially in cryptocurrency.

A source close to the case – Source: Le Parisien

This flat and almost commonplace scenario challenges the romantic idea of sophisticated digital crime: sometimes, the simplicity of an act is enough to sow terror, especially in the crypto world where the visible attracts predators.

From Ledger to Paymium — the Protection of Web3 Pioneers Is Crumbling

France is not spared: violent cases regularly affect crypto personalities. Ledger’s co-founder, David Balland, was kidnapped in January 2025, with his finger cut off, until a GIGN operation freed him after a crypto ransom demand was quickly recovered by investigators.

In May, the attempted kidnapping in central Paris targeting the daughter of Paymium’s CEO ended in failure, thanks to the intervention of a passerby with a fire extinguisher. The French crypto community now lives in fear.

Key figures and facts:

• January 2025: David Balland kidnapped, finger cut off, ransom partially paid, successful GIGN operation;
• May 2025: aborted kidnapping attempt against Paymium CEO’s daughter, citizen intervention;
• Over 20 arrests related to kidnappings connected to the crypto sphere;
• The Interior Minister promises strengthened collaboration with police and crypto actors.

These events raise questions about the current protection capacity of crypto actors. Between organized criminal networks and a lack of personal security, crypto in France seems exposed without safety nets.

Threats hover everywhere, offline and online. Between hacking, scams, kidnapping, and the rise of quantum computing, the crypto world remains fragile. It becomes imperative to check if your bitcoins are safe (or not) in this new changing environment, where a simple transaction or an exposed wallet can sow chaos.