France: Arrests Continue Following Crypto-Related Kidnappings
Handcuffs are still clicking. In France, arrests are following one after another in kidnapping cases linked to cryptocurrencies. This time, an entire network is shaking. But behind the closing cells, one question remains: is the police going after the branches or the roots of the evil? Can crypto investors breathe, or do they have to learn to live with the fear lurking behind every transaction?
In Brief
- New arrest in France in a kidnapping case involving a Parisian crypto entrepreneur.
- Investigators dismantle a structured network involving twenty-five young people with highly connected profiles.
- Badiss Bajjou, presumed mastermind, was arrested in Morocco under an international arrest warrant.
- Crypto investors are becoming targets, triggering a strong response from French authorities.
Crypto Kidnappers: a Network Still Active
The story of crypto kidnappings targeting crypto entrepreneurs in France is updating. On June 11, new suspects were arrested in the investigation of the kidnapping of a crypto entrepreneur’s father. These arrests show that the case is far from being closed. Several kidnapping attempts have failed in recent months. Others, much darker, have left marks: a severed finger, a ransom demanded in crypto, and a breathless chase between Paris and Essonne.
The police have identified a core group: young adults, sometimes minors, often recruited via social networks. At the head of the network, a certain Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, arrested in Tangier . Extradition is expected. The man is suspected of orchestrating several targeted attacks, including the one against David Balland in January.
A total of twenty-five people, aged 16 to 23, have been indicted. The profile is clear: connected operatives, led by an international mastermind.
Terror Crosses French Borders
France is not an isolated case. Everywhere in the world, crypto fortunes attract the most violent desires. A fortune accessible without a safe, just a key. This new paradigm fuels unprecedented violence. Kidnappers no longer target banks, but digital wallets.
In France, fear is spreading through the crypto community. The founder’s father was kidnapped, they tortured him, they demanded millions. These words haunt Telegram groups and specialized forums. In January, it was David Balland, a tech figure, who was targeted. More recently, a kidnapping attempt targeted the relatives of Pierre Noizat, founder of Paymium.
The atmosphere is heavy. Some entrepreneurs are now considering private security, even personal weaponry. Fear is settling in. Exposed profiles are starting to hide their digital identities. But doubt remains: is it enough to disappear from the radar to stay alive?
The French State flexes muscles against the crypto threat
Facing the wave of kidnappings, French authorities are intensifying their actions. A confidential meeting brought together police, judiciary, and political leaders to build a united front. The Interior Ministry promised an emergency plan against “crypto-targeted crimes“.
Concrete measures are announced:
- 25 indictments linked to crypto kidnapper networks have been confirmed;
- 1 presumed network leader arrested in Morocco, targeted by an Interpol warrant;
- Several nationalities involved: France, Russia, Senegal, Angola;
- Suspects aged between 16 and 23, often recruited via TikTok, Telegram;
- A unit dedicated to protecting crypto leaders is under discussion.
The government also plans to hide personal addresses in official registers. A way to prevent information from circulating freely and serving criminals. However, voices are rising about the risk of creating shadows.
The state thus wants to restore trust. Minister Retailleau states:
Law enforcement is mobilized to protect our entrepreneurs.
The situation remains worrying. France, on the brink of financial bankruptcy , sees a darkening future. In this gloom, bitcoin and other cryptos appear as credible alternatives. Ironically, those who carry this hope are now the targets of a new kind of violence.
