Crypto Executive Kidnapped in Paris Amid Rising Sector Violence

A senior manager at a Malta-based cryptocurrency firm was abducted in central Paris by four masked assailants, marking the second high-profile kidnapping targeting crypto professionals in France this year. The victim, whose son also received prior threats, was seized in a brazen daytime operation witnessed by multiple bystanders.

The incident follows January’s abduction of Ledger co-founder David Balland, revealing an alarming trend of physical threats against digital asset industry participants. Parisian authorities have yet to establish whether the cases are connected, though both involve executives from internationally operational blockchain companies.

Security analysts note a 217% year-over-year increase in crypto-related kidnappings globally since 2023, with France emerging as an unexpected hotspot. The pattern mirrors risks traditionally associated with high-net-worth individuals in volatile jurisdictions, now extending to decentralized finance leaders.