Crypto Kidnapping Paris: CEO’s Daughter Escapes Armed Abduction Attempt

Armed Gang Tries to Kidnap Crypto CEO’s Daughter, Grandson in Paris

Broad-Daylight Attack in the 11th District
In a harrowing incident Tuesday morning, the daughter and young grandson of a prominent French cryptocurrency CEO narrowly escaped a violent kidnapping attempt in Paris’s 11th district. The victim is the daughter of the co-founder of Paymium, one of France’s first Bitcoin exchange platforms.

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Attack Thwarted by Resistance and Public Intervention
At around 8:20 a.m. local time, three masked men leapt from a white van and assaulted the family. As they attempted to force the woman and her child into the vehicle, they also beat her partner who tried to resist.
In a courageous act, the woman fought back. She managed to grab a replica air gun from one of the attackers and toss it into the street, preventing its use. Her screams drew attention from parents nearby on school runs. A local resident even threw a fire extinguisher at the attackers, causing them to flee.
The assailants later abandoned the van, and French authorities are investigating through their armed robbery division.

Crypto-Linked Crimes on the Rise in France
This is not an isolated incident. It’s the third known violent abduction tied to crypto wealth in France this year:

• January 2025: David Balland, Ledger wallet co-founder, was kidnapped and tortured—his finger was severed before rescue.

• May 2025: A crypto millionaire’s father was kidnapped while walking his dog. He too had a finger mutilated before being found.

Both previous cases led to arrests, but the trend is escalating.

France’s Crypto Security Crisis
The unregulated nature of crypto—fast, irreversible transactions with pseudonymous wallets—makes it a prime target for organized criminal groups.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other global bodies have continually flagged this concern. Without improved crypto security practices, both online and offline, entrepreneurs and their families remain at risk.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for the Crypto Community
This failed kidnapping attempt is a clear reminder of the real-world threats tied to digital assets. As crypto adoption grows, personal security and industry regulation must evolve in tandem.