A 23-year-old man was kidnapped in Maisons-Alfort, a suburb of Paris, in an incident marking the 10th such crypto-related violent attack in France this year, highlighting a disturbing trend. The victim was held captive for several hours while his captors demanded both cash and access to his Ledger hardware wallet, knowing details about his crypto holdings. He was released in nearby Créteil after his partner complied with the ransom demand of 5,000 euros and handed over the Ledger wallet.
The attack is part of a surge in 'wrench attacks' globally targeting cryptocurrency holders, with France accounting for nearly one-third of at least 32 such cases recorded this year. These attacks often involve violence, torture, and threats to family members to extort crypto assets. The perpetrators appear well-informed about their victims' digital assets and personal routines, suggesting targeted and organized criminal activity.
High-profile cases, including the kidnapping of Ledger’s co-founder David Balland and attempts against relatives of crypto executives like Paymium’s CEO Pierre Noizat, underline the seriousness of these crimes. Security experts report increasing demand from crypto professionals for 24/7 personal protection. Beyond France, similar kidnappings and assaults targeting crypto owners have been reported in the US and other countries, indicating a widespread security threat within the crypto community.