“We Have Your Father, This is About Crypto” – Exclusive Testimony from the Son of a Hostage Held in Isère
- The Brutal Reality of Crypto Kidnappings
- Why Are Crypto Professionals Becoming Targets?
- The Disturbing New Normal
- How Can the Crypto Community Respond?
- Q&A: Understanding the Crypto Kidnapping Crisis
In a shocking escalation of crypto-related crimes, a French blockchain developer's father was brutally kidnapped and tortured by criminals who mistakenly believed the family held cryptocurrency wealth. This exclusive interview reveals the terrifying 16-hour ordeal and exposes the disturbing new trend of crypto-targeted kidnappings sweeping France.
The Brutal Reality of Crypto Kidnappings
At 7 AM, Alexis (name changed for security) received a call from an unknown number. Initially dismissing it as a scam, he ignored the threats - until a second call came from his father's phone number. His world collapsed instantly. The kidnappers, having found Alexis's blockchain development credentials on LinkedIn, had come for him. When they couldn't find Alexis at his registered address, they took his father instead. "I was Plan A," Alexis told us. "When I wasn't there, my father became Plan B."
What followed was 16 hours of medieval torture - facial beatings, fingers smashed with hammers (the kidnappers' secateurs weren't sharp enough), and death threats. The assailants, while determined, were shockingly amateurish. Their ringleader likely operated from Dubai, Morocco, or even a French prison cell, coordinating via encrypted messaging apps. According to CoinMarketCap data, such crypto-related kidnappings have surged over 300% in France since 2023.
Why Are Crypto Professionals Becoming Targets?
The media portrayal of cryptocurrency as a get-rich-quick scheme has created dangerous misconceptions. Mainstream coverage often depicts crypto as an unregulated wild west of instant fortunes - making developers like Alexis appear as walking ATMs to criminal elements. "They demanded 3 million dollars or 1,000 ETH," Alexis recalled. "I kept thinking they had the wrong person."
French authorities report over 20 similar crypto kidnappings in 2025 alone. The pattern is clear: criminals comb LinkedIn for blockchain-related keywords, then dispatch local crews. When high-profile targets prove inaccessible, they'll settle for family members. As BTCC security analyst Jean-Luc Moreau notes, "It's become a criminal gig economy - drug dealers repurposed as crypto kidnappers."
The Disturbing New Normal
This case reveals three alarming trends:
- Target Democratization: You no longer need to be a crypto whale - mentioning blockchain skills publicly now makes you a target
- Violence Inflation: Torture has become standard procedure, even when victims clearly lack crypto assets
- Prison Pipeline: Incarcerated criminals mastermind operations using smuggled phones
The recent arrest of a Colombian hit squad in Lyon suggests international gangs are entering this lucrative market. As TradingView charts show, while crypto prices fluctuate, the kidnapping "industry" shows only bullish momentum.
How Can the Crypto Community Respond?
Security experts recommend:
- Removing all crypto references from public profiles
- Using pseudonyms for blockchain work
- Educating family members about basic security
- Advocating for better law enforcement coordination
As Alexis's father recovers from his ordeal, one truth becomes clear: in today's France, working with blockchain can literally become a matter of life and death. This article does not constitute investment advice.
Q&A: Understanding the Crypto Kidnapping Crisis
Why are crypto professionals being targeted?
Criminals mistakenly believe all blockchain workers possess significant cryptocurrency holdings, fueled by media portrayals of overnight crypto millionaires.
How are victims selected?
Primarily through public LinkedIn profiles mentioning blockchain work or crypto projects. Some cases involve leaked data from crypto companies.
What makes France particularly vulnerable?
France combines sophisticated digital criminals, lax extradition agreements with some countries, and abundant low-level criminal labor willing to perform kidnappings.
Are exchanges doing enough to protect users?
While exchanges like BTCC implement strong security measures, the industry needs better education about physical security risks beyond digital threats.
