Kidnapping Attempt on Crypto Tycoon’s Family Foiled in Central Paris, Prompting Urgent Manhunt by Police

On Tuesday morning in central Paris, three masked and armed men attempted to abduct the daughter and two-year-old grandchild of a prominent crypto entrepreneur, according to French police sources.

The incident unfolded around 8:20 am on Rue Pache in the 11th arrondissement, where the 34-year-old woman was walking with her child.

Witnesses reported seeing three men in balaclavas approach and try to force the pair into a van disguised as a Chronopost delivery vehicle.

The attempted kidnapping escalated quickly when the child’s father intervened.

Despite being assaulted, he managed to disrupt the attack, prompting the assailants to flee.

During the struggle, one of the attackers dropped a handgun—authorities have not yet confirmed whether it was real or a replica.

The van used in the attack was found abandoned just blocks away.

Though physically unharmed, the woman and child were reportedly shaken by the incident.

Despite the woman’s screams, bystanders did not intervene, according to local reports.

A manhunt is now underway, with anti-gang units actively involved.

The Paris prosecutor’s office has tasked the Brigade de Répression du Banditisme, a specialised anti-banditry division, with leading the investigation.

Authorities are exploring whether the motive was financial, linked to the family’s connections to the cryptocurrency sector.

While the entrepreneur’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, officials confirmed that he leads a crypto platform and holds substantial digital assets.

Given the rise in financially motivated crimes targeting crypto-affiliated individuals, investigators believe this may be part of a broader trend of criminal groups shifting focus from crypto figures themselves to their more vulnerable loved ones.

Growing Pattern of Violence Against Crypto Elites

The attempted abduction in Paris is the latest in a disturbing surge of crypto-linked kidnappings and extortion attempts worldwide.

In France, authorities have reported a notable increase in violent attacks against digital asset holders, with this incident marking the third targeted kidnapping attempt since January 2025.

Earlier this year, David Balland, co-founder of the crypto security firm Ledger, and his partner were kidnapped and tortured by assailants demanding a €10 million ransom.

They were rescued in a police operation that led to seven arrests.

More recently, the father of another French crypto entrepreneur was abducted and held for ransom between €5 million and €7 million before being freed by law enforcement, who arrested five suspects during the raid.

French investigators now suspect that organised criminal networks are deliberately targeting crypto entrepreneurs, drawn by the perceived lack of oversight in the sector and the ease of liquidating digital assets for quick payouts.

The ongoing investigation into the latest attempted kidnapping is being led by specialised anti-gang units, and authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Across borders, law enforcement agencies are issuing growing warnings: as digital wealth becomes more visible, so too does the risk for those who hold it—and increasingly, their families.

Criminals are shifting their focus—from high-profile crypto figures to their families.

As digital wealth becomes harder to access directly, bad actors are turning to more vulnerable targets.

Is this pivot toward threatening loved ones a troubling escalation in the evolving landscape of crypto-related crime?