compiled by Elmili TK
Paris — In a dramatic overnight raid, French police rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur who had been kidnapped for ransom, in what appears to be another alarming case of criminals targeting figures tied to the digital finance sector.
Authorities say the abduction occurred Thursday morning in Paris, but the victim was successfully located and freed Saturday night from a residence in the Essonne region, just south of the capital.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom in exchange for the man’s release. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, is the father of a man known to have amassed significant wealth through cryptocurrency ventures.
French media reports suggest the ordeal took a brutal turn, with the hostage reportedly suffering severe injuries — including the amputation of a finger — though officials have not confirmed these details. Medical treatment was administered following the rescue.
Five suspects have been taken into custody. Four were arrested at or near the house where the man was held, while a fifth was apprehended behind the wheel of a car believed to have been used in the abduction. Investigators are now pursuing charges that could include kidnapping accompanied by torture or acts of extreme cruelty.
This is not the first incident linking crypto-affiliated individuals to violent crime in France. In January, police foiled another high-profile kidnapping, involving David Balland, co-founder of the crypto wallet company Ledger. Balland and his wife were taken from their home in central France, with the attackers allegedly demanding cryptocurrency as ransom from another company executive.
In both cases, elite units from France’s National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) were deployed, successfully liberating the victims and leading to multiple arrests.
As digital fortunes rise, so do risks — and French authorities appear to be facing a new criminal frontier where financial tech and physical security intersect.
