TLDR
- Daughter and grandson of Paymium co-founder escaped kidnapping attempt in Paris
- Six crypto-related attacks in France alone this year, part of global trend
- Violent methods include finger amputations and multi-million dollar ransom demands
- Public tracker shows 22 physical crypto attacks in 2025 already, compared to 32 in all of 2024
- Cases span multiple countries including France, Spain, Hong Kong, and Brazil
A violent kidnapping attempt targeting the daughter and young grandson of a cryptocurrency exchange co-founder has highlighted the growing danger faced by those in the crypto industry. The attack, which took place Tuesday morning in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, is part of an alarming rise in physical crimes linked to digital assets.
Four masked individuals attempted to force the woman and her child into a van. Her husband was beaten while trying to protect his family. During the struggle, the woman managed to disarm one attacker, throwing their weaponâlater identified as a replica air gunâinto the street.
The commotion drew attention from passersby who initially hesitated to help. As locals began to react, the attackers fled the scene in their vehicle, which was later recovered by authorities nearby.
All three victims were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. Police have confirmed the woman is the daughter of the co-founder and CEO of Paymium, one of France’s earliest cryptocurrency exchanges.
This incident marks at least the sixth crypto-related attack in France this year. The country has become a hotspot for such crimes, with several high-profile cases making headlines in recent months.
Rising Pattern of Violence
In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner were kidnapped in central France. Reports indicate Balland had a finger amputated by his captors, who demanded cryptocurrency as ransom. Nine suspects, including the alleged ringleader, have since been arrested.
Early May saw another brutal kidnapping when the father of a crypto millionaire was abducted while walking his dog in Paris. The victim also lost a finger before being rescued three days later during a police raid. Seven people were arrested in connection with this case.
The violence extends beyond French borders. A public tracker maintained by security firm Casa CTO Jameson Lopp has recorded 22 physical crypto-related attacks worldwide so far in 2025. This compares to 32 cases for all of 2024 and 24 in 2023.
In March, Chinese-Filipino steel magnate Anson Que was killed after kidnappers demanded $20 million in cryptocurrency. Authorities had already provided $3.5 million before his death, and an investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong has seen several victims ambushed during cash-for-crypto trades, including a recent case involving a Turkish businessman. In Brazil, criminals posing as law enforcement drugged and abducted a Spanish businessman, demanding $50 million in crypto. He was held for five days before escaping.
The recent Paris attempt was captured on video by a bystander. The footage shows three men in hooded tops trying to drag the woman into a white van before eventually giving up as locals began to intervene. One person even threw a fire extinguisher at the van as it drove away.
The attack occurred around 8:20 local time on a relatively busy street. Children were reportedly on their way to a nearby primary school when the incident unfolded.
A Paris police brigade that specializes in armed robbery is expected to investigate the case, which comes as law enforcement agencies worldwide grapple with this emerging threat to people connected to the cryptocurrency industry.
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