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Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
France summons cryptocurrency businesses after kidnappings
PARIS: The French interior minister said Wednesday he will meet with cryptocurrency professionals to discuss how to prevent future kidnappings for ransom following several such high-profile cases in France. Bruno Retailleau's invitation comes a day after the latest violent kidnapping attempt in broad daylight in Paris, and a series of previous such incidents. 'I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security,' Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster, 'and so that they become aware of the risks'. On Tuesday, the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt by armed men in Paris. Four masked men attacked a couple and their child in the French capital's 11th district, police sources told AFP. All three escaped with light injuries and were taken to hospital. The woman is the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. Tuesday's events follow the abduction in January of French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, had his finger cut off by the kidnappers. At least nine suspects have since been detained, including the alleged mastermind. In May, attackers kidnapped a man to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Police arrested seven people after a raid to free the man. 'We must jointly take measures to protect them,' Retailleau said of crypto businesspeople and their families on Wednesday. 'But we will also find the perpetrators wherever they may be, perhaps even abroad,' he said. The interior ministry meeting is scheduled for Friday, officials said.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
France summons cryptocurrency businesses after kidnappings
France on Wednesday faced calls to bolster security for cryptocurrency firms, after armed men attempted to snatch the daughter and grandson of the Paymium platform from a Paris street and a spate of similar violent incidents. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Paymium urged the authorities "to immediately adopt measures to reinforce the protection of collaborators of companies in the cryptocurrency ecosystem". French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he would meet industry professionals later this week to discuss how to prevent future kidnappings and raise risk awareness. "I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security," Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster,. Tuesday's incident saw the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur narrowly escape when four masked men attacked a couple and their child in the French capital's 11th district, police sources told AFP. All three escaped with light injuries and were taken to hospital. The woman is the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. On Wednesday, the company demanded "immediate protection" against such attacks and welcomed the French minister's initiative. Paymium, which said it was "extremely saddened" by the incident, added that "media and politicians" had an important role to play in how information about cryptocurrency is handled. "Misconceptions can easily spread, ranging from supposed wealth to criminal fantasies, unfortunately contributing to fueling misinformation and to creating a climate of insecurity," it said in a statement. Tuesday's events follow the abduction in January of French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, had his finger cut off by the kidnappers. At least nine suspects have since been detained, including the alleged mastermind. In May, attackers kidnapped a man to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Police arrested seven people after a raid to free the man. "We must jointly take measures to protect them," Retailleau said of crypto businesspeople and their families on Wednesday. "But we will also find the perpetrators wherever they may be, perhaps even abroad," he said. The interior ministry meeting is scheduled for Friday, officials said.
Morocco World
14-05-2025
- Morocco World
France Interior Minister Pledges Security for Crypto Millionaires After Kidnapping Attempts
Rabat – France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has announced a meeting on Friday with cryptocurrency businesspeople to discuss new safety measures after several crypto millionaires were targeted by kidnapping attempts. The decision comes just one day after an attempted kidnapping targeting the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. The mother and her child, along with her husband, were attacked by four masked men in broad daylight in central Paris. Police said the victims suffered only minor injuries. Three masked individuals jumped out and tried to force the woman and her son into the van. The husband tried to fight off the attackers but was beaten with blunt objects. During the struggle, the woman managed to grab a pistol from one of the attackers and threw it away. It was later confirmed to be an airsoft gun. The attackers fled in the van when passersby heard the screams and came to help. 'I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security…and so that they become aware of the risks,' Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster. France has recently seen a wave of kidnappings and attempted kidnappings connected to crypto wealth. In January, David Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, was abducted along with his partner. During the incident, Balland's finger was cut off by the kidnappers. Nine people have since been arrested in that case, including the suspected leader of the group. Another case in May involved a man kidnapped in an attempt to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Seven suspects were arrested during the police operation to rescue him. 'We must jointly take measures to protect them,' Retailleau said, promising that authorities would not stop until all the criminals involved are found, even if they are hiding abroad.
Local France
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
France summons cryptocurrency businesses after kidnappings
Bruno Retailleau's invitation comes a day after the latest violent kidnapping attempt in broad daylight in Paris, and a series of previous such incidents. "I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security," Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster, "and so that they become aware of the risks". On Tuesday, the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt by armed men in Paris. Advertisement Four masked men attacked a couple and their child in the French capital's 11th arrondissement, police sources told AFP. All three escaped with mild injuries and were taken to hospital. The woman is the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. Tuesday's events follow the abduction in January of French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, had his finger cut off by the kidnappers. At least nine suspects have since been detained, including the alleged mastermind. In May, attackers kidnapped a man to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Police arrested seven people after a raid to free the man. "We must jointly take measures to protect them," Retailleau said of crypto businesspeople and their families on Wednesday. "But we will also find the perpetrators wherever they may be, perhaps even abroad," he said. The interior ministry meeting is scheduled for Friday, officials said.
Int'l Business Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
France Summons Cryptocurrency Businesses After Kidnappings
The French interior minister said Wednesday he will meet with cryptocurrency professionals to discuss how to prevent future kidnappings for ransom following several such high-profile cases in France. Bruno Retailleau's invitation comes a day after the latest violent kidnapping attempt in broad daylight in Paris, and a series of previous such incidents. "I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security," Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster, "and so that they become aware of the risks". On Tuesday, the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt by armed men in Paris. Four masked men attacked a couple and their child in the French capital's 11th district, police sources told AFP. All three escaped with light injuries and were taken to hospital. The woman is the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. Tuesday's events follow the abduction in January of French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, had his finger cut off by the kidnappers. At least nine suspects have since been detained, including the alleged mastermind. In May, attackers kidnapped a man to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Police arrested seven people after a raid to free the man. "We must jointly take measures to protect them," Retailleau said of crypto businesspeople and their families on Wednesday. "But we will also find the perpetrators wherever they may be, perhaps even abroad," he said. The interior ministry meeting is scheduled for Friday, officials said.
