Crypto CEO’s Daughter Fights Off Kidnappers in Paris Amid Rising Threats to Industry Figures

A shocking attempted kidnapping in Paris has drawn attention to the growing threat of physical attacks targeting figures in the cryptocurrency industry. On May 13, three masked assailants tried to abduct the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, co-founder and CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium.

The attack occurred in broad daylight in Paris’ 11th district as Noizat’s daughter walked with her son and a male companion. According to reports, the attackers tried to force the woman and her child into a van. When the male companion attempted to intervene, he was assaulted. Despite the violence, Noizat’s daughter resisted, reportedly managing to disarm one of the attackers and throw away the weapon.

Passersby who witnessed the scene stepped in to help, prompting the attackers to flee the scene in the van. Authorities later found the abandoned vehicle nearby. All three victims sustained injuries and were hospitalized.

The Brigade for the Suppression of Banditry, a specialized unit within France’s Ministry of the Interior, is leading the investigation. No suspects have been publicly identified at this stage.

The incident is the latest in a disturbing trend of physical assaults and kidnappings targeting crypto executives and their families. Michael Englander, CEO of Polish crypto exchange Plasbit, issued a stern warning to the industry on X (formerly Twitter):

“If you’re in crypto and still flaunting it online, you’re not just stupid, you’re putting your family in danger.”

Offline crypto-linked violence on the rise

This is not an isolated case. On May 3, Paris police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur who had been kidnapped and held for several days in a €7 million ($7.8 million) ransom plot. Earlier this year, David Balland, co-founder of hardware wallet firm Ledger, was abducted from his home and held until police intervened the following night.

In the U.S., Las Vegas police recently reported that three teenagers kidnapped a man at gunpoint after a crypto event and stole $4 million in crypto and NFTs.

Crypto lawyer Sasha Hodder commented that attacks are becoming increasingly physical:

“Crypto theft is evolving. It’s not just social engineering or SIM swaps anymore.”

Jameson Lopp, co-founder of self-custody platform Casa, has compiled a public GitHub list documenting in-person crypto robberies. So far this year, he has recorded 22 such incidents globally.

A 2023 University of Cambridge study found that these types of “wrench attacks” — a slang term for physical coercion to extract crypto keys — are frequently underreported. Victims often fear repeated targeting, and perpetrators range from organized crime syndicates to acquaintances and even family members.

The Paris incident serves as another urgent reminder that digital wealth can bring real-world risks — and crypto holders must take precautions not only online, but offline as well.