- Twenty-five suspects, aged 12-23, charged in violent crypto-related kidnappings across France this year.
- Attackers targeted the family of Paymium CEO and a Ledger co-founder and his wife.
- Several other plots failed or were intercepted by police.
- France’s interior minister pledged stronger collaboration with crypto firms to increase security.
Twenty-five young people, including six minors, have been charged in France in connection with a coordinated series of violent attacks and kidnappings targeting wealthy individuals in the cryptocurrency sector.
The focal point of the investigation is the attempted kidnapping of the family of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat on 13 May. Four masked men assaulted Noizat’s pregnant daughter, son-in-law, and grandson in broad daylight in central Paris. The attack failed and the victims sustained only minor injuries thanks to the intervention of bystanders.
Police also linked the suspects to other failed kidnapping plots, including an earlier failed attempt on the same targets and another disrupted plan near the western city of Nantes. The broader investigation also covers several interconnected plots, including a January attack where Ledger co-founder David Ballard and his wife were kidnapped from their home.
While both were successfully rescued by law enforcement, Ballard’s finger was cut off as part of the kidnappers’ retaliation for not receiving a ransom.
Related: Ledger Warns of New Scam Involving Fake Letters Asking for Recovery Phrases
The suspects, aged between 16 and 23, are believed to be lower-level actors with no charges yet filed against the masterminds of the attacks. The Paris prosecutor’s office reported that, “eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing and four have been placed under judicial supervision.”
Most of the suspects are French nationals, but individuals from Senegal, Angola, and Russia were also involved.
Minister to Convene Crypto Professionals for Enhanced Security Collaboration
The growing frequency of these targeted crimes has drawn attention from top government officials. The French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, told reporters on 14 May that he would meet with crypto professionals to strengthen cooperation with law enforcement.
“I will assemble business people working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the Interior Ministry to work with them on their security, and so that they become aware of the risks,” he said.
We will also find the perpetrators wherever they may be, perhaps even abroad.
Bruno Retailleau, French Interior MinisterThe situation in France mirrors a concerning global trend. At least 29 violent crypto-related attacks have been documented across the world so far in 2025, up from 34 in all of 2024, according to a crowdsourced tracker.
Related: Crypto Wealth Spurs Demand for Bodyguards Amid Rising Kidnapping Threats
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