From Cointelegraph

June 1, 2025 5:11 am:

French authorities have charged 25 individuals, including six minors, in connection with a series of kidnappings and attempted abductions linked to the country’s cryptocurrency sector. The suspects, aged 16 to 23, targeted prominent crypto figures and their families. Eighteen suspects are in pre-trial detention, three have deferred hearings, and four are under judicial supervision.

The investigation centers on a failed abduction attempt on the daughter and grandson of the CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium in Paris’ 11th arrondissement. This was not the first attempt, as a similar plot was staged the previous day, and another operation was foiled near Nantes. The masterminds behind the plot remain unknown.

Footage of the May 13 incident showed four masked attackers assaulting the CEO’s family, causing minor injuries. The suspects come from various backgrounds, with some described as “young profiles lured by money.” The rise in crypto-related kidnappings in France this year includes high-profile cases like the January abduction of a Ledger co-founder and his partner, and the May 1 kidnapping of a crypto millionaire’s father.

France’s Interior Minister met with crypto industry professionals to discuss protective measures, announcing enhanced cooperation between law enforcement and crypto firms. Insurance companies are developing new protections against kidnapping for crypto, with firms preparing tailored kidnap and ransom policies for digital asset investors. Executives and investors are also seeking personal security services.

Read more at Cointelegraph: France Charges 25 Over Crypto Kidnapping Spree in Paris