Crypto Millionaire's Father Freed After Kidnapping and Finger Severing
French Law Enforcement Successfully Rescues Abducted Father Belonging to Cryptocurrency Tycoon: Unconfirmed Sources
In a nerve-wracking ordeal that mirrors a recent high-profile case, the father of a crypto millionaire has been rescued by French authorities, days after being held captive by a group of masked men.
On a chilly Thursday morning in Paris's 14th arrondissement, the unidentified victim found himself in the clutches of four armed assailants who forced him into a nondescript delivery van, according to initial reports from Le Monde and Agence France-Presse.
Saturday night, police located the victim at a rented property in the Essonne region south of Paris. The five suspects, all in their twenties, were arrested during the operation led by specialized cybercrime and intervention units.
Earlier reports claimed the kidnappers had demanded between €5 million (US$5.6 million) and €7 million (US$7.95 million) in cryptocurrency, after one of the victim's fingers was severed. However, authorities confirmed that no ransom was paid before the rescue.
The victim appears to be the father of a man who made his fortune in cryptocurrencies. Investigators learned from the victim's wife that her husband and their son operated a crypto marketing firm registered in Malta.
The Parisian incident marks the latest in a series of "wrench attacks," a term coined in a 2012 XKCD comic and referring to physical threats designed to override crypto's digital security measures. These attacks are on the rise, with France seeing three crypto-related kidnappings this year alone.
In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland suffered a horrific attack, featuring kidnapping, mutilation, and demands for crypto ransom. According to Decrypt', Jameson Lopp, co-founder and CTO of Bitcoin security firm Casa, documents physical Bitcoin attacks in a GitHub repository, with the Paris incident being the 21st attack of the year.
Security experts recommend "relaxed awareness" and easy security measures for crypto holders to prevent wrench attacks. With the frequency of such attacks escalating, crypto entrepreneurs must remain vigilant to safeguard their assets and personal safety.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
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[1] Le Monde[2] Agence France-Presse[3] Le Parisien[4] Decrypt[5] GitHub (Physical Bitcoin Attacks)[6] Ledger Kidnapping (January 2025)[7] University of Cambridge University College of London Study on Wrench Attacks[8] XKCD Comic (Origin of "Wrench Attacks" Term)[9] Previous Decrypt Report on Wrench Attacks[10] New Zealand Police Force (Former Police Constable in Swan Bitcoin)[11] Casa CTO (Physical Bitcoin Attacks Analysis)[12] Rigel Walshe (Security Recommendations for Crypto Holders)[13] Recent Trends and Statistics of Wrench Attacks in France[14] Notable Crypto-Related Kidnapping Cases in France (2025)[15] Characteristics of Wrench Attacks in France[16] Preferred Ransom Currency: Cryptocurrency[17] Law Enforcement Successes in Preventing Ransom Payments[18] Growing Risks for Crypto Entrepreneurs in France
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- The cryptocurrency market witnessed a chilling event as the father of a crypto millionaire was kidnapped in Paris, with one of his fingers severed, demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency.
- Le Parisien and Agence France-Presse reported that police located the victim at a rented property in the Essonne region, arresting five suspects, all in their twenties.
- This incident is the latest in a series of "wrench attacks," as seen in a horrific attack on Ledger co-founder David Balland in January, where he was kidnapped, mutilated, and demands for crypto ransom were made.
- Security experts advise relaxed awareness and easy security measures for crypto holders to prevent wrench attacks, as these attacks are on the rise, with France seeing three crypto-related kidnappings this year.
- General-news outlets such as Decrypt and many others have been tracking the rising trend of wrench attacks, underscoring the growing risks for crypto entrepreneurs in France.
