Journalist

Hassan Shittu

Journalist

Hassan Shittu

About Author

Hassan, a Cryptonews.com journalist with 6+ years of experience in Web3 journalism, brings deep knowledge across Crypto, Web3 Gaming, NFTs, and Play-to-Earn sectors. His work has appeared in…

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Last updated: 

June 20, 2025

A 23-year-old man was reportedly kidnapped in Maisons-Alfort, a suburb of Paris, in what marks the latest in a growing number of violent incidents linked to cryptocurrency.

According to a Thursday report by Le Parisien, the victim was abducted earlier this week and held for several hours as his captors demanded access to both cash and his Ledger wallet.

The attackers reportedly targeted the victim and his partner, forcing them into a situation that French police are now investigating as kidnapping and unlawful confinement by an organized gang.

Paris Suburb Sees Another Crypto-Linked Kidnapping as Attacks Escalate

The incident began on Tuesday morning when the young couple left their home by car. They had set out on errands. When the driver couldn’t find parking, his partner got out while he circled the neighborhood.

Minutes later, she received a message from her partner claiming he had an urgent work issue.

Unaware of the real situation, she returned home. That’s when the event quickly escalated.

Her phone rang. It was a video call. On the screen wasn’t her partner, but another man.

The person on the call demanded that she gather €5,000 in cash and a Ledger hardware wallet and place them in a bag.

“Violence was used to make him talk,” a source told Le Parisien, indicating the kidnappers had knowledge of the man’s crypto holdings.

The woman, following the instructions, waited outside her home with the bag. A third person arrived and collected it.

By 5 p.m., the victim called his partner. He had been released in the nearby town of Créteil and was on his way back. French authorities have not disclosed any details about the man’s identity or the exact amount of crypto involved.

Police from Val-de-Marne are now handling the case. A source confirmed that the woman has been handed over to the judicial police.

“This is a sensitive case,” a police official said. The Anti-Banditism Brigade has reportedly made several arrests in connection with a series of recent kidnappings targeting crypto holders.

Tuesday’s attack is the tenth such case to surface in France in recent months, raising alarm among local crypto users and law enforcement.

Investigators believe the victim was carefully selected and that the perpetrators had detailed information about his assets and routines.

Surge in Violent Crypto Kidnappings Sparks Security Concerns Across Europe and Beyond

The recent wrench attack in a Paris suburb is just the latest in a chilling trend of violent crimes targeting crypto holders in 2025.

According to data compiled by Bitcoin security advocate Jameson Lopp, at least 32 wrench attacks have occurred globally this year, nearly one-third in France alone, putting 2025 on track to surpass the previous record of 36 incidents in 2021.

The assaults are becoming more brutal and calculated. Early this month, a crypto influencer in Essonne was kidnapped and beaten after attackers demanded €50,000 in crypto. They released him after discovering his wallet was nearly empty.

In January, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped in rural France. Balland also had a finger cut off as part of a ransom attempt. Twelve suspects were later arrested.

In one of the most harrowing cases this year, the father of a young poker player-turned-crypto trader was abducted by men posing as delivery workers. The kidnappers demanded up to €7 million and sent a video of the victim’s finger being severed. He was later rescued by police in a dramatic operation.

Other attacks have similarly targeted families of crypto executives. In May, Pierre Noizat, CEO of Paymium, narrowly avoided tragedy when a group attempted to kidnap his daughter and grandson.

That same month, authorities charged 25 suspects linked to a broader kidnapping ring across Paris.

The violence hasn’t been confined to France. In the U.S., victims in New York and Las Vegas were kidnapped at gunpoint, one of them was driven over 70 miles into the Arizona desert by assailants seeking access to his wallet.

Security experts say the increase in ransom demands, mutilation, and family targeting reflects a new phase in crypto-related crime.

Private firms like Amsterdam-based Infinite Risks International report a surge in demand from crypto executives seeking 24/7 protection.

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

About Author

Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has…

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Last updated: 

June 7, 2025

A wave of violent kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders is pushing some of the industry’s most well-known figures to overhaul their security — including Didi Taihuttu, patriarch of the so-called “Bitcoin Family.”

Taihuttu, who famously sold everything in 2017 to go all-in on Bitcoin, revealed that his family has abandoned hardware wallets and now hides their crypto seed phrases across four continents.

The shift follows a string of threats and rising attacks on crypto holders worldwide.

Even at Gunpoint Attackers Would Get Little

“We have changed everything,” Taihuttu told CNBC from Thailand. “Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I can’t give them more than what’s on my phone wallet — and that’s not much.”

Over the past eight months, the family moved to a hybrid system: seed phrases are encrypted, split, and stored in both physical and digital formats.

Some parts are etched onto fireproof steel plates hidden across four continents. Others are stored via blockchain-based encryption services.

“You only need to remember which words you changed,” Taihuttu explained. The system ensures that even if attackers access part of the seed phrase, they cannot unlock the family’s full holdings.

The decision comes as physical attacks on crypto holders increase. Moroccan police this week arrested a suspect accused of kidnapping crypto executives.

In France, the father of a crypto millionaire was brutally attacked. And in New York, a tourist was tortured for over two weeks as kidnappers tried to extract his Bitcoin credentials.

The Taihuttus, who remain entirely unbanked and travel full-time with their three daughters, say they are rethinking even their public presence.

After strangers tracked their residence through YouTube videos, they stopped posting travel updates and moved homes.

“We got a little bit famous in a niche market — but that niche is becoming a big market now,” Taihuttu said, noting the family has decided to avoid traveling to France altogether.

About 65% of their crypto is now locked in cold storage across four continents. The rest remains in multi-signature wallets or decentralized exchanges for trading and daily spending.

Taihuttu said they avoid centralized vaults and services, preferring to retain full control.

“What happens if one of those companies goes bankrupt? You’re putting your capital back in someone else’s hands,” he said.

Crypto Executives Hire Bodyguards

As reported, crypto executives are turning to personal security services as targeted kidnappings and ransom attempts continue to escalate, particularly in France.

In May, private security firms such as Infinite Risks International, based in Amsterdam, reported a sharp increase in demand from crypto professionals seeking round-the-clock protection amid rising crypto kidnapping.

The rise in inquiries came a after spate of violent attacks, including multiple kidnappings attempts that have alarmed both investors and law enforcement.

Insurance companies are reportedly looking to capitalize on the rising incidents of kidnapping and physical violence targeting crypto millionaires. 

NBC News reports that at least three companies that provide insurance and security services for cryptocurrency investors and firms are preparing to offer kidnap and ransom (K&R) insurance policies for those with security concerns stemming from their crypto holdings.

According to Rebecca Rubenfeld, chief operating officer at the crypto insurance firm AnchorWatch, the fear of violence was a big topic at the annual Bitcoin Conference that was held in Las Vegas last week.

“They’re tense. I’m not saying that because I’m trying to sell insurance, but overall, the mood is a very good environment for me.”

AnchorWatch is considering offering kidnapping and ransom protection in the coming months. 

The news comes after a string of reports emerged about the kidnapping of crypto investors. Last month, armed assailants reportedly tried to abduct the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noiza, the CEO of the French crypto exchange platform Paymium, in Paris. 

In another incident, three teenagers allegedly stole $4 million worth of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from a man who hosted a crypto-related event in Las Vegas and left him stranded at White Hills, Arizona. 

And last week in New York City, a kidnapper allegedly tortured and threatened a crypto investor for three weeks to gain access to his Bitcoin (BTC) wallet. 

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