Crypto Kidnappings Spike in France: Three Cases in Five Months Sparks Alarm
France faces a grim new trend—criminals targeting crypto holders for high-stakes kidnappings. Three incidents in just five months raise urgent questions about safety and regulation.
Why France? The country’s mix of crypto adoption and lax enforcement creates a perfect storm. Victims report being forced to drain wallets at gunpoint—old-school crime meets digital assets.
Meanwhile, traditional banks shrug—after all, they can’t lose fees on transactions they never processed. The irony? Crypto’s transparency might be what cracks these cases wide open.
Recent Incidents in France
The news has been full of kidnapping events involving the crypto community in the past few months. France, in particular, has made recurrent headlines. Ledger Co-founder David Balland was the first to fall victim this year.
In January, kidnappers abducted Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner from their central France home, demanding a substantial ransom. Police quickly rescued them, but Balland had lost a finger, and both suffered significant trauma.
Less than four months later, two more kidnappings WOULD occur. Earlier this month, police rescued the abducted father of an unnamed crypto millionaire after two days of being held captive.
Then, two weeks ago, abductors attempted to kidnap the daughter of French crypto mogul Pierre Noizat in broad daylight. Videos of the event raised alarm bells across social media.
This new crime wave isn’t going anywhere as crypto becomes more prominent.
Is France’s Reality Turning into a Global Phenomenon?
Rather than being unique, the recent series of crypto kidnappings is closely tied to Bitcoin’s appreciating price.
“Our data shows an increase in the number of publicly reported physical attacks on crypto users since 2021, with the BTC price strongly correlated with the number of such incidents. As the industry’s digital defenses become more robust, criminals are increasingly shifting to real-world tactics,” a Binance spokesperson shared with BeInCrypto.
This reality isn’t limited to France, either. Just this week, kidnappers reportedly tortured a man in New York City for his Bitcoin password.
Data reveals that this issue is becoming increasingly international. According to Binance, while only one global kidnapping incident occurred in 2019, this number jumped to 13 in the first five months of 2025 alone.
France’s recent issues, however, represent the increasing need for collaboration between the crypto industry and law enforcement in light of this trend.
The Importance of Collaboration
The troubling rise in kidnappings clearly shows that criminals are increasingly targeting prominent crypto holders for extortion. The sheer boldness of these attacks underlines the violent and desperate nature of these criminal groups.
Given the rapid growth of the crypto industry in countries like France, these places must be well-prepared for potential future acts of violence.
“As France continues to grow as a hub for digital innovation, it’s critical that public and private stakeholders proactively invest in security measures, intelligence sharing, and user education to stay ahead of emerging threats,” Jonathan Riss, blockchain intelligence analyst at CertiK, told BeInCrypto.
Sometimes, however, the technology that makes crypto secure also makes it difficult for traditional law enforcement to trace.
“Cryptocurrency, by design, is decentralized and pseudononymous—features that challenge traditional investigative models. The borderless nature of blockchain transactions can obscure jurisdiction, while the use of mixers, privacy coins, and peer-to-peer platforms complicates forensic tracing,” Riss added.
Riss also stressed that certain federal regulations in the country expose sensitive user information that malicious actors may later exploit.
“Recent French anti-money laundering laws expose users to increased risks—particularly through the ban on privacy tools in cryptocurrencies and the recent adoption of the ‘narcotraffic’ law. In the event of a personal data leak, users can be identified, located, and targeted for extortion or kidnapping. This mass collection of sensitive data, combined with blockchain transparency, creates a direct threat to the safety of asset holders,” he said.
Fortunately, the recent crypto kidnappings have prompted significant cooperation between French law enforcement and the local crypto industry to manage the situation.
How Did the French Government Respond?
Two days after the latest attempted kidnapping, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called a meeting with leading figures and representatives from France’s cryptocurrency sector to discuss these growing threats.
After the meeting, the ministry announced plans to bolster security measures for leading French crypto entrepreneurs and their families. It also anticipated increased law enforcement training on anti-crypto asset laundering.
The gathering itself underscored the importance of a joint effort between the government, police, and the private crypto industry to address these challenges effectively.
“The crypto industry has a vital role to play in public safety. By sharing intelligence, flagging suspicious activity, and supporting investigations with on-chain analytics, industry leaders can act as a first line of defense. Moreover, proactive AML and KYC practices, alongside partnerships with regulators and law enforcement, can help deter bad actors and build a safer ecosystem,” Riss told BeInCrypto.
While collective action is underway, crypto community members must also take personal responsibility by minimizing their exposure to dangerous situations.
Individual Risk Mitigation
For those in crypto, unfiltered visibility can swiftly morph into a vulnerability. While users might be inclined to share recent earnings after a rally or display their latest splurges, such public demonstrations can turn them into potential targets.
“Staying safe in this environment requires more than just good digital hygiene: it means taking proactive measures in your personal life to obscure, deflect, and reduce potential risk. Criminals are looking for careless mistakes online, watching behaviors, and exploiting moments of vulnerability in their potential victims,” a Binance representative explained.
A critical step in mitigating risks involves reducing online exposure to these vulnerabilities. Binance shared several guidelines, including advising against sharing crypto ownership on public platforms such as podcasts, interviews, or open forums.
Binance also cautioned against posting screenshots of wallet balances or transaction histories. Their spokesperson suggested creating separate identities or pseudonyms for crypto activities to enhance personal security.
Similar measures should be taken regarding a user’s social media activity.
Prioritizing Social Media Privacy
Binance stressed that significant crypto holders should aim to make their social media accounts more secure and less revealing.
“Attackers often build their plans from the details we voluntarily share online. Geotagged photos, casual check-ins, or travel stories can become intelligence for a kidnapping or attack where large amounts of digital funds are involved,” Binance’s spokesperson said.
Luckily, several actionable guidelines reduce this type of exposure. Simple steps, such as setting personal accounts to private and removing geolocation data from photos before posting, can go a long way toward ensuring safety.
Moving forward, the industry’s sustained growth will depend on its collective ability to innovate in technology and safeguard its community from emerging threats.
