In Paris, a terrifying new trend is shaking the French crypto community to its core. A string of violent kidnappings targeting prominent cryptocurrency figures and their families has left the industry reeling — and many are now living in fear.
Just this week, a shocking incident took place in broad daylight: masked attackers attempted to kidnap the daughter of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium, right in the middle of a Paris street. The botched kidnapping, captured by horrified bystanders on camera, quickly went viral and triggered widespread outrage.
For Alexandre Aimonino, 23-year-old co-founder of a crypto compliance firm, the message is clear — he’s a target. “Working in the ecosystem feels like having a target on your back,” he said. To stay safe, he avoids public transport, skips industry events, and changes his route home every day.
This wasn’t an isolated case. In January, the co-founder of crypto hardware firm Ledger and his wife were kidnapped in central France. Both survived, but not without trauma — he lost a finger. In another incident earlier this month, the father of a crypto executive was kidnapped and also mutilated. In one case, ransom was paid in cryptocurrency but later recovered by French authorities.
The repeated attacks have prompted top crypto executives to demand swift action from the government. Some are calling for deregulation to make crypto transactions less traceable, while others believe the root of the problem lies in rising violent crime across the country.
Eric Larchevêque, another Ledger co-founder, took to social media to express frustration. “How many entrepreneurs are quietly leaving this country out of fear?” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “France is no longer protecting its people.”
The Paris prosecutor’s office has confirmed that organized crime units are investigating the latest attack, but concrete details remain scarce. While some suspects have been arrested in prior cases, it’s unclear who is behind this surge in crypto-targeted abductions.
Security professionals warn that flaunting wealth on social media and the perception that crypto is easy to launder are major draws for criminals. “Crypto transactions often escape the scrutiny of traditional banking,” explained Michael Lyons, a lawyer specializing in anti-money laundering.
The rise in crypto wealth has created a new class of vulnerable targets. Many firms are now turning to private security companies. Paris-based Wagram and ARECIA have reported a spike in demand for personal bodyguards following the attacks. Meanwhile, insurance firms like those run by UK-based broker Ben Davis are being flooded with clients worried about kidnapping risks.
“Two years ago, nobody wanted to talk about this,” Davis said. “Now, every client is asking about it. The attacks are getting more brazen, more violent — and they’re not going away.”
As fears grow, France’s interior minister Bruno Retailleau has begun engaging with crypto stakeholders to develop protection strategies. But for now, many in the industry are left wondering: could they be next?
