Ledger Co-Founder David Balland Freed After Ransom Kidnapping

user avatar

by Giorgi Kostiuk

2 years ago

David Balland, co-founder of French cryptocurrency company Ledger, and his partner were freed after being kidnapped for ransom.

Details of the Kidnapping

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that Balland was abducted from his home in central France on Tuesday and taken to another location. The kidnappers demanded a large ransom in cryptocurrency, though the exact amount or whether it was paid remains undisclosed. Balland was released on Wednesday and received medical attention. His partner was later freed by GIGN, France's elite police unit. No arrests have been made, and further details about the operation remain undisclosed.

Impact on Ledger and Security

The incident has drawn attention to Ledger, a leading producer of hardware wallets. Founded in 2014, the company is valued at $1.5 billion after a 2021 funding round. The case highlights ongoing concerns about organized crime and the potential misuse of cryptocurrencies in illicit activities.

Other Crypto-Related Crimes

France has seen a rise in high-profile crimes, including last year's prison van escape. In November, the body of Canadian crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi was found in Montreal after his abduction. WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was also briefly kidnapped and released after paying $720,000. Security expert Jameson Lopp advises avoiding risky trades and displaying wealth to reduce the risk of being targeted by criminals.

Abductions and other crimes linked to cryptocurrencies remain a significant concern. Companies and individuals in the field must be vigilant about security.

Tier I

Sector: #18291

Sealed Hiding Place Room

Resource Cache

Resource Cache

Tier I

Requires 25% Tier Progress to Claim
Meme Cache

Meme Cache

Tier I

Requires 50% Tier Progress to Claim
Equipment Cache

Equipment Cache

Tier I

Requires 75% Tier Progress to Claim

After collecting, hiding places will be stored in your inventory and can be opened with Keys.

Other news

Broadcom Set to Gain from Alphabet's Custom TPU Sales

Broadcom is set to benefit from Alphabet's decision to sell custom TPUs to external data centers, enhancing its AI semiconductor revenue through a long-term agreement until 2031.

user avatarBayarjavkhlan Ganbaatar

Alphabet Enters Hardware Market with Custom TPUs for Data Centers

Alphabet announces the sale of its custom-made Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to external data centers, marking a significant move into hardware sales.

user avatarTenzin Dorje

CoinsBee and TRON DAO Launch Discount Campaign for USDT Payments

CoinsBee, in collaboration with TRON DAO, is launching a campaign that offers eligible users a 2% discount on purchases made with USDT on TRON.

user avatarMohamed Farouk

USDT on TRON Surpasses Bitcoin as Most Used Payment Method on CoinsBee

USDT TRC20 on the TRON network has become the most used on-chain token and payment option on CoinsBee, surpassing Bitcoin and Ethereum in payment activity.

user avatarElias Mukuru

Panel Discussion on Trading Insights at Zoomex After Party

A flagship panel titled 'Where's the Edge' will feature industry KOLs discussing trading strategies and market dynamics.

user avatarKenji Takahashi

Ollie Bearman to Host Interactive QA at Zoomex Event

Ollie Bearman will host an interactive QA session at the ZOOMEX TRADERS AFTER PARTY on October 7, 2026, providing a unique opportunity for traders and motorsport fans to engage directly.

user avatarDiego Alvarez

Important disclaimer: The information presented on the Dapp.Expert portal is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an investment recommendation or a guide to action in the field of cryptocurrencies. The Dapp.Expert team is not responsible for any potential losses or missed profits associated with the use of materials published on the site. Before making investment decisions in cryptocurrencies, we recommend consulting a qualified financial advisor.