TDLR:
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A crypto millionaire’s father was abducted by masked men demanding a €7 million ransom.
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The kidnappers severed one of the victim’s fingers to pressure payment.
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French police raided a Paris suburb on May 3 and freed the hostage unharmed.
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All suspects, men in their 20s, face serious charges including kidnapping and extortion.
French police have freed a man who was kidnapped in a plot targeting his wealthy son, a prominent figure in the crypto industry.
As per a Tuesday report by Le Monde, the abducted individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, was rescued in a police raid that took place on the night of May 3, 2025, in a Paris suburb.
The kidnapping, which unfolded on Thursday morning, is believed to be a well-planned extortion attempt aimed at extorting a ransom of between €5 million and €7 million from the son, a successful crypto entrepreneur.
Notably, the victim, described as the father of a well-known crypto millionaire, was seized in the 14th arrondissement of Paris by four masked men.
The kidnappers reportedly forcibly bundled him into a delivery van and held him captive as they demanded a ransom.
The attack, which was violent and calculated, took a sinister turn when one of the victim’s fingers was severed as a sign of the kidnappers’ ruthless tactics. Authorities feared further mutilations if the police did not intervene promptly.
Meanwhile, the swift police response led to the successful arrest of five suspects, all men in their 20s. They were detained after officers raided an address in a Parisian suburb where the victim was being held.
French prosecutors have since launched a thorough investigation into the case, with the suspects facing charges related to kidnapping, extortion, torture, and unlawful imprisonment. One suspect was apprehended while driving a vehicle believed to have been used by the criminals.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau praised the operation, calling it “decisive,” and lauding the efforts of the French police.
“The safety of citizens and their families, especially when targeted by such violent crimes, is of paramount importance,” Retailleau said.
Un immense bravo aux enquêteurs qui ont fait un travail exceptionnel pour libérer cet homme et pour interpeller ses ravisseurs. Merci à @NunezLaurent et à la @prefpolice pour leur engagement décisif. https://t.co/e7PUr2OxzV
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) May 3, 2025
The victim’s wife had previously informed investigators that both she and her husband had been threatened in the past, raising suspicions that the kidnappers were targeting the family due to their connections to the crypto world. The couple, who run a successful crypto marketing firm based in Malta, have been the subjects of previous extortion threats.
Criminals Targeting Crypto Figures.
That said, this kidnapping is the latest in a string of attacks targeting cryptocurrency figures in France. In January 2025, David Balland, the co-founder of the crypto firm Ledger, was abducted in a similar fashion, with his abductors demanding a ransom of €10 million. His kidnappers also severed his finger in an effort to expedite the ransom payment. That case remains under investigation, with several suspects already detained.
In another related case from New Year’s Eve 2024, the father of a Dubai-based crypto influencer was kidnapped from his home in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France. Armed assailants restrained both him and his wife before transporting the victim over 500 kilometers across the country. The victim was later found in Le Mans, bound, beaten, and doused with gasoline. Police discovered him in the trunk of a car after the suspects fled. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom from the influencer, who instead contacted authorities, leading to a swift rescue.
