France Strengthens Security for Crypto Entrepreneurs Amid Surge in Kidnappings

French authorities are ramping up security measures for cryptocurrency professionals and their families following a wave of targeted kidnappings across the country, according to a report released on May 16.

In response to three serious kidnapping cases since the start of the year, France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced a set of emergency protections aimed at deterring further attacks and safeguarding members of the crypto community.

The new security measures include:

• Priority access to police emergency lines

• Home security assessments

• Personal safety briefings from law enforcement

“These repeated kidnappings of professionals in the crypto sector will be fought with specific tools, both immediate and short-term, to prevent, dissuade and hinder in order to protect the industry,” Retailleau said.

Law enforcement officers will also receive anti-crypto asset laundering training as part of the broader crackdown. Retailleau held consultations with leaders from France’s crypto industry to coordinate these efforts.

Recent Kidnapping Incidents Targeting Crypto Figures

The most recent incident took place on May 13, when attackers attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French crypto platform Paymium. The attackers, armed and in broad daylight, tried to force them into a van. Noizat’s daughter bravely disarmed one assailant and threw the weapon away, thwarting the attempt.

Other major incidents include:

• May 3: Paris police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur, who had been kidnapped as part of a €7 million ($7.8 million) extortion attempt.

• January 21–22: David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was abducted from his home in central France and held hostage for over 24 hours before being freed in a police operation.

Ongoing Threats and Safety Warnings

Retailleau has suggested that the incidents may be connected, pointing to an alarming trend of crypto-related crime. According to a GitHub database maintained by Bitcoin privacy advocate Jameson Lopp, more than 150 crypto-related robberies or kidnappings have occurred globally since 2014, with 23 already reported in 2025.

Lopp warns that criminals often identify targets through social media activity, public events, and crypto-branded apparel, urging individuals to avoid flaunting their wealth or conducting peer-to-peer trades with unfamiliar parties.

France’s latest move underscores the growing need for both regulatory and personal security in an increasingly high-stakes crypto landscape.