Cryptocurrency Executive's Family Narrowly Escapes Kidnapping in Paris

Three masked men attempted a violent kidnapping of the family of a prominent cryptocurrency executive in Paris, but their efforts were thwarted after a struggle with the victims and assistance from passersby. The attempted abduction, which was filmed by bystanders, occurred in the 11th district of Paris, raising serious concerns about the safety of individuals connected to the cryptocurrency industry in France.

The incident took place at around 08:20 local time on Tuesday when the three attackers, emerging from a white van, targeted the woman and her young son. Reports indicate that the woman is the daughter of a co-founder of Paymium, a well-known French Bitcoin exchange. When the assailants attempted to separate the family, the husband intervened, protecting his loved ones at great personal risk. During the confrontation, he was struck repeatedly, and in a moment of courage, the daughter managed to seize a firearm from one of the assailants, later revealed to be a replica air gun, and threw it away.

Despite the chaos and initial hesitation from onlookers, a collective response from the local community led to the attackers abandoning their plans and escaping in their getaway vehicle, an act marked by one individual throwing a fire extinguisher at their retreating van. Fortunately, the family sustained only minor injuries and was treated at a nearby hospital.

The incident is part of a worrying trend of violent kidnappings targeting those connected to the cryptocurrency sector in France. Just over a week earlier, a cryptocurrency millionaire's father was kidnapped while walking his dog and later released after a brutal ransom ordeal that left him with a severed finger. Moreover, last January, David Balland, co-founder of the cryptocurrency wallet firm Ledger, and his wife were also attacked at their home. These incidents underscore the increasingly perilous environment for figures in the cryptocurrency industry and raise alarm among law enforcement, who are now investigating the links between these events and organized crime targeting affluent individuals.