A group of prominent French cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families will receive heightened security measures following two confirmed kidnappings and an attempted abduction involving industry figures and their relatives.
The French Interior Ministry announced that the new measures include priority access to the police emergency line, home visits, and safety briefings by law enforcement to advise on best practices. Officers will also undergo training focused on anti-crypto asset laundering.
“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,”
Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau said in a statement on Friday (May 16).
Retailleau met with leaders from France’s cryptocurrency sector earlier that day following a spate of violent incidents.
The most recent occurred on Tuesday (May 13), when four individuals attempted to abduct the daughter and grandson of the CEO of French crypto platform Paymium in broad daylight.
Earlier this year, David Balland, co-founder of crypto wallet company Ledger, was kidnapped, and earlier this month, the father of another crypto entrepreneur was taken.
The investigations are being led by France’s organised crime prosecutor, with several arrests already made. Retailleau stated earlier in the week that he believed the incidents were likely connected.
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