Catenaa, Wednesday, May 13, 2025-French authorities last Monday rescued the father of a crypto millionaire who was abducted in broad daylight in Paris and held for a multi-million-euro ransom, police said last week.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was kidnapped Thursday morning in the 14th arrondissement by four masked men and forced into a delivery van.
During the ordeal, his captors reportedly severed one of his fingers and demanded a ransom between €5 million and €7 million, prosecutors told local media.
Police said five suspects, all men in their 20s, were arrested during a late-night raid that led to the victim’s release. A fifth man, believed to be the getaway driver, was also detained. No ransom was paid, authorities confirmed.
The victim’s wife said the family had previously received threats linked to their crypto business, a marketing firm based in Malta, according to a police source cited by Le Monde.
The son, who allegedly made his fortune in cryptocurrencies, has not been identified.
The case echoes a spate of violent crypto-related abductions targeting perceived wealthy investors. In one high-profile French case, Ledger co-founder David Balland was similarly attacked.
In Canada, a man was recently tortured in a botched kidnapping after online posts falsely suggested he held millions in digital assets.
Police have not disclosed whether additional suspects are being sought in the Paris case. The investigation remains ongoing.
