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

Electrum Wallet Faces Security Threat from Fake Pending Payments

Electrum, one of Bitcoin's oldest software wallets, has published a security advisory detailing a vulnerability that has been exploited by attackers, allowing fake pending payments to be displayed in the wallet.

user avatarMaya Lundqvist

Upcoming Economic Announcements Expected to Influence Markets

Key economic announcements are scheduled for the upcoming week, which may impact financial markets.

user avatarLeo van der Veen

US Evacuates Personnel Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East

The US is rapidly evacuating personnel from embassies and military bases in the Middle East due to increased threats from Iran.

user avatarLi Weicheng

Strategys Share Repurchases Reach $385.5 Million

Strategy has repurchased approximately $385.5 million of its preferred stock, focusing on STRC shares during the period from October 5 to 18, 2026.

user avatarTenzin Dorje

Shareholders to Vote on Daily Dividend Payments

Strategy is seeking shareholder approval to make dividend payments on its four preferred securities more frequent, proposing that every calendar day would become a record date.

user avatarBayarjavkhlan Ganbaatar

Strategys Common Shares Outperform Preferred Securities

Strategy's common shares returned 774 between June 26 and October 23, 2026, outperforming four of the company's preferred securities.

user avatarAisha Farooq

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.