France Declares War on Crypto Kidnappings as Elite Targets Get Hit
Paris isn’t playing nice anymore. Authorities just rolled out draconian measures to stop a surge in crypto-linked abductions—turns out flashing your Bitcoin wealth in 2025 is like painting a bullseye on your back.
High-profile victims? Check. Untraceable ransom demands? Obviously. Another reminder that decentralized finance still can’t outrun human greed—or violence.
Meanwhile, traditional banks smirk from their marble lobbies. At least their heists require getaway cars.
Circle Dismisses Acquisition Rumors, Reaffirms IPO Focus
These incidents follow another case earlier this year, when Ledger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped and held for crypto ransom. He was later freed by French authorities.
In response to the growing threat, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has ordered heightened protection for crypto executives and their families. Industry insiders have also begun hiring private security teams to counter the escalating risks.
According to a GitHub tracker maintained by security advocate Jameson Lopp, at least six crypto ransom-related incidents have occurred in France in 2024, with half of them taking place in Paris.
