French authorities are taking urgent steps to address the rising threat of kidnapping attempts targeting cryptocurrency executives and their families. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced plans to meet with industry professionals to discuss measures to prevent future kidnappings and enhance the safety of those involved in the cryptocurrency business. This initiative comes after a violent kidnapping attempt in broad daylight in Paris, marking the latest in a series of troubling incidents.
Retailleau revealed that the meeting will bring together cryptocurrency business leaders to discuss security issues and raise awareness of the risks involved. On Tuesday, a French crypto entrepreneur’s daughter and grandson narrowly avoided a kidnapping attempt in Paris. The armed attackers, four masked men, assaulted a couple and their child in the city’s 11th district, but all three victims managed to escape with minor injuries.
This attack follows a series of high-profile kidnapping cases, including the January abduction of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a prominent cryptocurrency firm. During his kidnapping, the perpetrators cut off Balland’s finger, and police later arrested several suspects, including the mastermind. In May, another victim was abducted by criminals seeking to extort ransom from his crypto-millionaire son. The authorities arrested seven individuals following a raid to rescue the victim.
Minister Retailleau emphasized that both security measures and international cooperation will be key in tackling this issue. The interior ministry has scheduled a meeting with industry leaders for Friday to discuss these challenges in detail.
