A man suspected of playing a major role in a series of recent French crypto-related kidnappings, including that of Ledger’s co-founder, has been arrested in Morocco.

The suspect, a French-Moroccan national, was reportedly found in possession of multiple bladed weapons and several mobile phones.

Details of The Arrest

According to a local media report, 24-year-old Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou was wanted by French authorities and the subject of a 2023 Interpol red notice. The announcement had been issued for charges related to the arrest, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or arbitrary detention of a hostage.

At the request of French authorities, Morocco’s national police and intelligence service apprehended Bajjou in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier. The country’s General Directorate for National Security confirmed the operation in an official statement.

“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which demonstrates the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly against organized crime,” said French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin in a statement on X.

Last week, French authorities also charged 25 people, including six minors, in connection with a series of kidnappings and attempted abductions in the region.

In May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with crypto industry leaders. The ministry later announced plans to improve the safety of individuals involved in the sector. The new measures include giving priority access to police emergency lines, home security evaluations, and safety briefings from French law enforcement.

Crypto-Linked Abductions

France has recently experienced several kidnappings and failed attempts targeting crypto executives and their families. One of the most recent incidents occurred on May 13 in broad daylight. Attackers allegedly tried to abduct the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French crypto platform Paymium.

This followed two successful incidents where victims were later released with missing fingers. Also in May, the father of a French crypto millionaire was abducted in Paris while walking his dog. The victim was later held for several days before being freed after a ransom demand of $7.8 million.

In January, David Balland, co-founder of crypto wallet provider Ledger, was forcefully taken from his home in central France during the early hours of January 21. The executive was then kept in captivity until a police operation on the night of January 22 led to his release. This case also involved a ransom of around $11.4 million.

The ‘Bitcoin Family’ has completely overhauled its security measures amid rising cases of crypto-related kidnappings, according to a CNBC report.

The family, which sold all their belongings in 2017 to invest in Bitcoin (BTC) and now travels around the world, has taken extreme measures amid a rise in perceived threats. This includes storing parts of their Bitcoin wallet seed phrase etched on fireproof metal plates stored across four continents.

The family consists of Didi Taihuttu, his wife Romaine, and their three daughters—Joli, Juna, and Jessa. The Taihuttu family gained the spotlight over the years for living a bankless life supported by Bitcoin.

Taihuttu told CNBC:

“We have changed everything. Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I can’t give them more than what’s on my wallet on my phone. And that’s not a lot.”

Bitcoin Family is not alone in increasing security measures

Over the past few months, there has been a dramatic increase in crypto-related kidnapping and extortion cases. Earlier this year, David Balland, co-founder of hardware wallet Ledger, and his partner were kidnapped and tortured, with Balland reportedly losing a finger in the ordeal.

Early last month, the video of the attempted kidnapping of the daughter of the CEO of a prominent French crypto exchange in broad daylight went viral, striking fear among individuals with substantial crypto holdings.

Following the surge in attacks, the French government vowed to increase security measures for crypto executives. This included priority access to the police emergency line, home visits, and safety guidance and briefings from law enforcement, Politico reported.

Days after the incident in France, an Italian tourist escaped the clutches of his kidnappers from a Manhattan apartment. The victim was reportedly held hostage for 17 days and tortured using myriad methods, from electric shocks from tasers to being whipped with a gun. The perpetrators, who were trying to extort the victim’s Bitcoin wallet password, were arrested late last month.

Amid the spate of kidnappings, crypto investors like the Bitcoin Family have started tightening security measures. Several of them have resorted to private security firms to hire bodyguards or armored trucks to ensure safety.

Insurance companies have also started cashing in on the opportunity, offering kidnap and ransom (K&R) policies tailor-made for crypto holders.

Taihuttu told CNBC that they’ve factored in the rising cases and reassessed their security measures. He said:

“We’ve been talking about it a lot as a family. My kids read the news, too — especially that story in France, where the daughter of a CEO was almost kidnapped on the street.”

Bitcoin Family has taken security into their own hands

Amid the undeniable growth in threats, the Taihutti family has taken several steps to ensure safety.

Among the changes was the decision to ditch hardware wallets, which were once touted as the safest way to store crypto. Taihuttu said:

“It’s a strange world at the moment. So we’re taking our own precautions — and when it comes to wallets, we’re now completely hardware wallet-less. We don’t use any hardware wallets anymore.”

The Taihutti family decided to stay off hardware wallets amid growing concerns about backdoors and remote access features. Over the past eight months, the Bitcoin family switched from hardware wallets to a hybrid system where the seed phrase was stored via partly digital and partly analogue methods.

As part of the enhanced security measures, the family has split a 24-word Bitcoin seed phrase into four sets of six words. Each set of words is stored on a different continent. This means that Taihuttu needs to make at least one international trip, depending on which set of words is required, to access the wallet. He can, however, add funds to the wallet without any hassles. Taihuttu explained:

“Even if someone finds 18 of the 24 words, they can’t do anything.”

While Taihuttu stores some parts of the seed phrase through blockchain encryption platforms, he has etched others on fireproof steel plates with a hammer and letter punch and hidden them. He has also added a separate layer of personal encryption to throw off would-be attackers by switching out certain words of the seed phrase.

The family uses the above method to store about 65% of its crypto holdings, considering it to be safer than using a centralized vault, like the Swiss Alps bunker used by Coinbase-owned Xapo. This is because Taihuttu is concerned about being able to access his funds in case the company goes bankrupt.

The Taihuttu family has also moved away from centralized exchanges, executing around 80% of its trades via decentralized platforms like Apex.

For the family’s crypto stored in hot wallets for trading, Taihuttu uses multi-signature wallets to ensure enhanced safety. He added that they treat the majority of their cold wallet savings as a pension fund that the family will only access once the BTC price reaches $1 million.

Lifestyle changes amid growing threat

The Taihuttu family has a large social media presence, with tens of thousands of followers across platforms. However, the family has been stepping away from the spotlight amid the growing threats. He noted:

“We got a little bit famous in a niche market — but that niche is becoming a really big market now.”

Taihuttu believes that the number of crypto robberies is going to keep increasing, which is why the family is making tough choices, from curtailing video shoots to avoiding France.

While the family is currently in Thailand, they have stopped posting regular travel updates and shooting videos at home. Taihuttu said:

“We stayed in a very beautiful house for six months — then I started getting emails from people who figured out which house it was. They warned me to be careful, told me not to leave my kids alone. So we moved. And now we don’t film anything at all.”

Taihuttu added that while creating content is his passion, the concern for his daughters’ safety is forcing him to stay away from the camera.

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A suspect allegedly behind recent high-profile crypto kidnappings in France has been arrested in Morocco, according to Maghreb Arab Press, a government-run press agency.

At the request of French authorities, a joint operation of Morocco’s National Judicial Police Brigade (BNPJ) and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) took the 24-year-old French-Moroccan suspect into custody, according to a statement from Moroccan police distributed by MAP. The press agency described the man, who was identified by French press as Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, as a mastermind of the crimes.

“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which demonstrates the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly against organized crime,” said French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin in a translated statement on social-media site X.

Interpol said Bajjou was sought for organized extortion, kidnapping and violence, according to a so-called “red notice” posted for the man.

French authorities have already charged more than two dozen people — including six minors — in the spate of crypto kidnappings in Paris, most of them tied to the May 13 failed kidnapping attempt of the family of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of exchange Paymium.

Also in May, the father of a French crypto millionaire was reportedly kidnapped in a case that was similar to the earlier seizure of David Ballard, a co-founder of crypto-wallet developer Ledger, and his wife. Kidnappers severed a finger from each of the men.

After those recent cases, France’s Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau hosted a meeting with people involved in crypto to discuss measures to keep them secure.

Read More: France Charges 25 People, Including 6 Minors, in Crypto Kidnapping Cases

Moroccan police have arrested a dual-national French-Moroccan man wanted for an alleged connection with a series of kidnappings in France that targetted individuals with crypto holdings, Reuters reported on June 4, citing a source familiar with the case.

According to the source, Moroccan police identified the man as Bajjou Badiss Mohamed AmiDe, who is 24 years old and was subject to an Interpol red notice issued by French authorities. 

Charges against him include organized crime, kidnapping, and extortion. He will be prosecuted in Morocco due to his dual nationality, with French prosecutors having already transmitted the necessary case files to their Moroccan counterparts.

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged the arrest in a post on social media, and thanked Moroccan authorities but did not comment further on the case. 

Moroccan officials confirmed that the suspect will not be extradited and will face trial locally under the criminal charges issued by France.

Rise in crypto-linked kidnappings

The arrest follows a wave of violent attacks on crypto entrepreneurs in France, prompting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to implement emergency protections. 

Reports on May 16 revealed that the government has begun offering private security consultations and home assessments to individuals deemed to be at risk.

Retailleau, who met privately with crypto founders, said the goal is to stop what he called “unbearable” attacks. 

According to Ledger co-founder Éric Larchevêque, France has witnessed 14 of the 50 known global attacks on cryptocurrency figures in the past year.

Recent cases include a January abduction of Larchevêque’s associates and a May 14 attempted kidnapping of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat’s daughter in Paris, caught on video. 

In another case, police arrested seven suspects after the finding of a victim with a severed finger. Noizat warned that more violence would occur unless the judiciary responded with greater urgency.

The Interior Ministry’s actions aim to prevent further escalation as France attempts to maintain its position as a hub for digital finance. Proceedings against Bajjou will continue under Moroccan jurisdiction.

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France is deploying new security measures to protect crypto entrepreneurs after a rash of violent kidnapping attempts raised alarm across the country’s tech sector and ignited political pressure on Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, AP News reported on May 16.

The ministry confirmed that Retailleau met privately with crypto founders to discuss personal safety.

According to the report, the meeting was described as “strictly confidential,” and journalists were asked not to film participants “for reasons of security.”

The government is now offering affected individuals priority emergency support, elite police consultations, and assessments of home security infrastructure.

Retailleau, who is positioning himself as a tough-on-crime candidate for 2027’s presidential race, said in a statement that he is determined to stop these “unbearable” attacks.

Escalating threats

Crypto-linked ransom kidnappings and crime in France have grown more frequent over the past year, with several cases happening in recent months.

According to Eric Larchevêque, co-founder of Ledger, there were 50 known attacks globally targeting individuals in the crypto industry in the past 12 months, 14 of which occurred in France.

Larchevêque, who attended Friday’s meeting, told broadcaster RTL that he felt French authorities “have understood what’s at stake” following the discussions.

The concerns follow a high-profile case in January, when an associate of Larchevêque and his wife were kidnapped for ransom.

More recently, police intervened in a separate case where a hostage, related to a crypto entrepreneur, had a finger severed before officers raided the site. Seven suspects were arrested in that case.

Failed abduction captured on video

The latest incident, captured on video on May 14, involved masked men attempting to shove the daughter of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat into a van in broad daylight.

The footage showed the woman and her husband struggling with the attackers on the pavement as bystanders shouted for help. A local shopkeeper eventually forced the suspects to flee by throwing a fire extinguisher at their vehicle.

Noizat told reporters that his son-in-law required stitches following the attack and accused judges and politicians of a “lack of action.” He warned that these crimes would increase if the government did not make serious efforts to stop them.

The Interior Ministry’s heightened response is aimed at stemming fears that violent crime could derail France’s digital finance ambitions, which have been a centerpiece of President Emmanuel Macron’s economic strategy.

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