The Brussels Criminal Court has convicted three kidnappers for the abduction of crypto investor Stéphane Winkel's wife, highlighting the growing concern over crypto-related kidnappings.
Case Overview
The court sentenced the three kidnappers to 12 years in prison for the abduction of crypto coach Stéphane Winkel's wife. The incident occurred in December of last year when the victim was forcibly taken outside their home in Brussels. After Winkel raised the alarm, police pursued the vehicle, ultimately stopping it near Bruges and freeing the victim. The court also ordered the kidnappers to pay over one million euros in civil damages, rejecting their claims of acting under duress.
Rising Wave of Crypto Kidnappings
Winkel's case is part of a disturbing trend of crypto-related kidnappings sweeping across France. Recently, a 26-year-old TikTok influencer was abducted by four men demanding €50,000 in crypto, but was released when the attackers discovered his crypto accounts were nearly empty.
Reasons for the Increase
France has emerged as a hotspot for crypto kidnappings, with a concentration of visible crypto founders and companies like Ledger and Paymium. The 2020 Ledger data breach, which exposed the names and home addresses of thousands of wallet buyers, further increased users' vulnerability to such attacks.
Winkel's case illustrates the growing issue of kidnappings in the crypto world, urging for enhanced security measures for investors and their families.
