The French crypto circle has been tense recently, with frequent kidnapping cases. In early June, a 26-year-old trader with 40,000 TikTok followers was abducted by four criminals and demanded a ransom of 50,000 euros. Amusingly, when the kidnappers discovered his Bitcoin wallet was extremely poor, contrary to his online image of wealth, they helplessly released him on the spot, becoming the only failed kidnapping news recently.
Surveillance cameras in the Juvisy-sur-Orge neighborhood south of Paris recorded the victim being dragged into a stolen car. Investigators stated that the criminals beat the victim inside the car and forced him to open his wallet. After finding insufficient funds for 50,000 euros, the kidnappers abandoned the transaction and escaped the next morning. The French National Police Directorate for Judicial Police (DCPJ) has taken over the investigation.
After experiencing this treatment, the victim was mentally traumatized and was granted 6 days of medical leave by his employer, shattering the dream of being a crypto influencer driving a luxury car.
International Police Pursuit, Still Understaffed
Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, the mastermind behind multiple crypto wallet robbery cases in Europe, was arrested in Morocco in early June. The Paris Prosecutor's Office indicted 25 suspects on June 11, including 6 minors, but potential accomplices and copycats may still exist.
The Minister of Interior has met with dozens of crypto entrepreneurs, promising to increase police force and establish rapid response channels. However, experts point out that international judicial cooperation and evidence collection remain time-consuming. For instance, in January this year, Ledger hardware wallet co-founder David Balland and his partner were threatened with finger cutting, with a ransom of 10 million euros. On May 13, Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat's pregnant daughter also encountered armed criminals. According to official statistics cited by France 24, the country recorded 12 crypto kidnapping cases in the first five months of 2025, ranging from tens of thousands to millions of euros.
"Blockchain Addresses Are Target Lists"
InTech security company advisors warn investors that showing off wealth, storing funds in a single wallet, or meeting for transactions could create vulnerabilities.
"Your public address on the blockchain is the kidnappers' 'customer list'."
Some high-net-worth investors have hired private security or are considering relocation. Exchanges are being required to enhance KYC data protection to prevent information leaks. Facing high-value but hard-to-trace assets, improving OPSEC is more critical than chasing returns.
