May 14, 2025 — Paris, France
In a bold and disturbing incident that highlights the growing dangers faced by cryptocurrency figures, armed men attempted to kidnap the daughter of a crypto CEO and his grandson in central Paris on Tuesday. The attack occurred in broad daylight in the city’s 11th district and is the latest in a series of violent crimes linked to the booming cryptocurrency sector in France.
A Brazen Attack in Paris
According to police sources, the attack happened on Tuesday when four masked men ambushed a couple and their child on a public street in Paris. The woman targeted is the daughter of the crypto CEO and co-founder of Paymium, one of France’s oldest cryptocurrency exchange platforms. The group was assaulted by the assailants who jumped out of a van and attempted to force the woman and her child into the vehicle.
The woman’s partner, who tried to protect his family, was beaten during the attack. Despite the violence, the woman managed to resist. In a remarkable act of courage, she grabbed one of the assailants’ firearms and threw it away. Her actions, along with the screams from the victims, attracted the attention of nearby passers-by. The noise and growing public presence forced the attackers to abandon the kidnapping and flee the scene.
The three victims—mother, partner, and child—sustained light injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. Police later found the van used in the escape abandoned nearby.
Rising Violence in the Crypto World
Tuesday’s attempted effort to kidnap the daughter of a crypto CEO is not an isolated case. It follows a pattern of recent violent crimes targeting individuals connected to the French cryptocurrency community.
In January 2025, another shocking incident occurred when David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a globally recognized crypto hardware wallet company, was kidnapped along with his partner. The situation quickly escalated as the kidnappers cut off Balland’s finger and demanded a large ransom in cryptocurrency. Authorities have not confirmed whether the ransom was paid, but did state that nine suspects have since been arrested, including the alleged mastermind behind the operation.
In another recent event in May 2025, attackers kidnapped a man in an attempt to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. French police conducted a swift raid to free the man and arrested seven individuals involved in the crime.
These events paint a troubling picture of how crypto wealth is becoming a magnet for organized criminal activity, especially when it involves targeting a crypto CEO or their family members.
The Broader Crime Context
The attempted kidnapping of a crypto CEO’s daughter in Paris also comes amid a broader rise in violent organized crime across France. One of the most high-profile incidents took place in May 2024, when heavily armed gunmen ambushed a prison convoy to free a notorious drug trafficker known as “The Fly”—real name Mohamed Amra. The operation resulted in the murder of two prison guards. Amra was eventually tracked down and extradited from Romania in February 2025.
This broader wave of crime has pushed law enforcement to raise alarms about how new technologies, particularly cryptocurrencies, are being exploited by criminals.
Crypto and Crime: A Growing Concern
Global regulators have repeatedly warned about the increasing use of cryptocurrencies in criminal activities. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international body tasked with combating money laundering and terrorism financing, has stressed that digital assets could become “a safe haven for the financial transactions of criminals and terrorists.”
Criminals are drawn to crypto for its perceived anonymity and the ease of moving large sums across borders without triggering traditional banking alerts. This has made wealthy individuals in the crypto space, especially early adopters or founders of major platforms like a crypto CEO, prime targets for ransom schemes and extortion.
In many cases, law enforcement agencies struggle to trace and freeze crypto funds, especially when attackers use privacy coins or mix their transactions through decentralized exchanges.
Crypto Entrepreneurs Under Threat
The recent surge in crypto-related violence has prompted calls for greater security awareness within the industry. Many entrepreneurs, developers, and investors still live relatively open lives—attending public events, posting personal details on social media, and traveling without protection.
But with crypto fortunes growing rapidly, and remaining largely outside the control of traditional financial systems, these individuals are now being seen as high-value targets by criminal groups.
France’s crypto industry, which once prided itself on innovation and openness, is now facing serious security challenges. Tuesday’s incident will likely intensify discussions about the need for personal safety precautions, encrypted communication, and anonymous movement within the crypto elite.
Authorities Under Pressure
Tuesday’s attempted kidnap of a crypto CEO’s daughter is expected to put further pressure on French authorities to act decisively. Law enforcement agencies are now being called upon to not only solve these specific cases but also create long-term strategies to protect crypto figures from organized crime. This could include better surveillance of known threats, collaboration with cybersecurity experts, and cooperation with blockchain forensic firms.
So far, France has positioned itself as one of the most progressive European countries in supporting blockchain innovation. However, without strong security frameworks, the sector’s growth could be slowed by fear and risk aversion.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for the Crypto World
The daylight attack on a crypto CEO’s family in the heart of Paris is more than just a tragic event, it’s a warning. As the cryptocurrency industry grows in value and influence, it must also come to terms with the risks that accompany financial power.
Criminals have already adapted. Now, it’s time for regulators, entrepreneurs, and investors to do the same.
From kidnap attempts targeting the daughter of a crypto CEO to mutilation and ransom demands, the stakes are getting higher. And unless serious steps are taken to secure the ecosystem, these incidents may become less the exception and more the rule.
