The French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has called for an emergency meeting with crypto entrepreneurs following a recent attempted kidnapping of the Paymium CEO's daughter and grandson.
Minister Takes the Initiative Amid Escalating Violence
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that he would convene key players in the French crypto sector for an extraordinary meeting at the ministry. This decision follows the audacious attempted kidnapping of Pierre Noizat's daughter, the co-founder and CEO of the Paymium platform.
The attack occurred on Tuesday morning in Paris's 11th arrondissement, where three masked men attempted to force the young woman, her partner, and their two-year-old child into a white van. Brave witnesses intervened, with one using a fire extinguisher to drive off the attackers. Police later located the abandoned vehicle in the area.
Growing Threat to the French Crypto Ecosystem
Kidnappings related to cryptocurrency have significantly increased since the beginning of 2025. Security expert Jameson Lopp reported 22 similar incidents worldwide in the first four months of the year. These "wrench attacks" aim to extort victims’ private keys through physical force.
France has not been spared from this troubling trend. In January, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was held captive for several days at his home before being rescued by police. More recently, in early May, French police freed the father of a crypto entrepreneur who had been kidnapped for ransom of 7 million euros.
Consequences and Potential Security Measures
In light of this escalation, the meeting between Bruno Retailleau and the entrepreneurs may change the situation. For the first time, the state and the crypto sector will collaborate on concrete solutions. Professionals are hopeful for rapid measures to ensure their security.
The situation regarding kidnappings in the crypto sector necessitates heightened attention from authorities and a thorough analysis of security in this field.
