French authorities have charged 25 individuals, including six minors, over a series of kidnappings and attempted abductions linked to the country’s cryptocurrency sector.
The group, aged between 16 and 23, faces charges connected to multiple plots targeting prominent crypto figures and their families, Le Monde reported, citing an announcement from the Paris public prosecutor’s office on May 31.
Per the report, eighteen suspects are now in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four remain under judicial supervision.
The investigation centers on a failed May 13 abduction attempt in Paris’ 11th arrondissement. The targets were the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium.
En plein Paris, un homme a été violenté par des individus cagoulés, habillés tout en noir. Ils tentaient de l’enlever. Un homme a surgi, extincteur à la main, pour les faire fuir. →https://t.co/P0qV6PR40v pic.twitter.com/9f4r2Gi7ho
— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) May 13, 2025
Authorities say this was not the first attempt — a similar failed plot was staged the previous day. Days later, police also foiled another operation near Nantes.
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Masterminds behind the plot remain unknown
Footage of the May 13 incident, which circulated widely on social media, showed four masked attackers assaulting Noizat’s daughter, her husband, and their child. The victims suffered minor injuries and were treated in hospital.
The suspects reportedly come from a wide range of backgrounds, including individuals born in the Paris region, Châtellerault, Senegal, Angola, and Russia.
Many of them were described by defense lawyers as “young profiles lured by money and caught in a situation beyond their control.”
The Paris case is part of a broader rise in crypto-related kidnappings across France this year. High-profile incidents include the January abduction of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner, as well as the May 1 kidnapping of the father of a crypto millionaire — an incident investigators say is linked to the current wave of attacks.
So far, police have arrested lower-level operatives and logistics coordinators, but the masterminds behind these plots remain unidentified.
The growing threat has drawn national attention. France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau met with crypto industry professionals in mid-May to discuss protective measures. The ministry later announced enhanced cooperation between law enforcement and crypto firms, including home security checks conducted by police and gendarmerie officers.
Related: French minister to meet crypto firms after kidnapping attempt
Insurance companies to cover crypto risks
As reported, insurers are racing to develop new protections aimed at a growing physical threat: kidnapping for crypto.
At least three firms specializing in crypto insurance and security are now preparing tailored kidnap and ransom (K&R) policies for digital asset investors, according to a recent report from NBC News.
Likewise, executives and investors in the crypto industry are increasingly seeking personal security services. On May 18, private firm Infinite Risks International reported a rise in requests for bodyguards and protection contracts from high-profile figures in the crypto space.
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