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What do the latest France crypto kidnapping cases reveal about the intersection of wealth, risk, and personal security?

France Crypto Kidnapping: A Growing Concern Beyond Cybercrime

In recent months, France has seen an alarming rise in physical attacks targeting individuals in the cryptocurrency space. These incidents go beyond traditional financial scams or cyber breaches, involving in-person coercion and threats that often extend to the victims’ families. With increasing reports of kidnappings and ransom demands, the risks faced by crypto holders have evolved from virtual vulnerabilities to real-world dangers.

The Kidnapping of David Balland

On January 21, 2025, French entrepreneur David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a prominent company in the crypto wallet industry, became a victim of a violent kidnapping. Balland and his wife were abducted from their home in Méreau by an armed group. The attackers separated the couple at gunpoint, taking Balland to an undisclosed location while moving his wife elsewhere.

During his captivity, Balland was subjected to physical abuse, including the severing of a finger, to coerce access to his crypto holdings. The kidnappers sent a video of the severed finger to his business partner, along with a €10 million crypto ransom demand. French authorities launched a swift investigation, tracing Balland’s location to a house in Châteauroux within 48 hours. A police raid secured his rele

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