Cryptocurrency Fueling a Rise in Kidnappings and Heists? Here’s What You Need To Know

Key Takeaways

• Hackers and gangs vary their attacks, from phishing to physical assaults, including abductions and extortion. 
• Attackers often go after those publicly linked to crypto, and family members can become targets. 
• Privacy gaps, public flaunting of wealth, and poor operational security can leave users exposed to violent crime. 
• Crypto attackers can also become victims, showing that no one is entirely safe from it, and security measures are essential. 

The world of tech innovation not only brings buoyant projects and opportunities for investment, but also the adaptation to the latest fintech. 

Additionally, it introduces risky and culturally fascinating investment products, such as memecoins or crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs). However, with innovation, crime does not lag. 

From phishing and SIM-swapping to elaborate abduction plots, criminals have found ways to exploit decentralized finance (DeFi).

In 2025, many cases show that wealth stored in digital wallets can become a real-world target linked to real-world victims. 

Users, platforms, and law enforcement must adapt sooner than the malicious actors and prioritize privacy.

This article covers five kidnapping and ransom cases involving crypto. While the details vary, they share key patterns: victims are targeted through privacy gaps, pressured to give up wallet access, and often selected because of their public crypto ties. 

These cases show how digital assets are increasingly linked to real-world heists and why keeping crypto private is essential for investors.

Father of a Crypto Millionaire Abducted and Rescued

• Date: May 2025
• Victim: Father of a wealthy French crypto holder

French police rescued the father of a crypto millionaire after he was abducted in broad daylight on the streets of Paris. The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom between €5 million and €7 million. In a brutal effort to force compliance, the attackers cut off one of the man’s fingers. Police arrested five suspects.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed his “relief and gratitude” on X following the rescue:

The case underscored growing concerns over criminals targeting crypto holders and their families.

Ledger Co-Founder Kidnapped and Mutilated

• Date: January 21, 2025
• Victims: David Balland, his wife, and a former colleague, co-founders of Ledger

A criminal gang broke into the home of Ledger co-founder David Balland in Vierzon, France. They kidnapped Balland and his wife, assaulted them, and mutilated Balland by cutting off one of his fingers to force access to crypto wallet credentials. 

After the attack, the criminals contacted another Ledger co-founder and demanded a ransom.

During the large-scale investigation, police deployed 200 officers and arrested 10 suspects. Ledger, the French crypto wallet firm, is valued at €1.3 billion.

Las Vegas Man Abducted by Teenagers for $4M in Crypto

• Date: November 2024
• Victim: Unnamed male crypto holder

Three teenagers lured a man in Las Vegas after a crypto event he hosted and abducted him at gunpoint at his home. They forced him into a car and drove him into the desert. The attackers demanded access to his crypto wallets and drained $4 million in cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

CCTV images showing the teenage suspects circulated on social media, referring to how crypto attacks are evolving.

After the robbery, the victim walked about five miles through rough terrain until he reached a gas station and called for help. Authorities later charged the suspects in connection with the planned heist and kidnapping.

$230M Bitcoin Heist Tied to Minecraft Gamers Ends in Family Kidnapping

• Dates: August 2024 (Bitcoin theft) and August 25, 2024 (kidnapping attempt in Connecticut)
• Amount stolen in Bitcoin theft: 4,100 Bitcoin, valued at $230 million.
• Kidnapping victims: Sushil and Radhika Chetal, parents of Veer Chetal (18), who played a key role in the Bitcoin theft.

A group of hackers who met through Minecraft stole 4,100 Bitcoin, worth around $230 million, from a victim in Washington state. They used social engineering tactics, posing as Google and Gemini support staff. 

The group sent phishing emails, triggered fake security alerts, and placed spoofed calls. Once they gained access, they moved the Bitcoin and laundered it through wallets, mixers, and privacy coins.

The theft ranked among the largest of 2024. ZachXBT flagged the case and began tracing the funds.

The case got more complex later. The gang turned on Veer Chetal, one of their own. They targeted his parents. 

On August 25, 2024, they ambushed Sushil and Radhika Chetal during a house-hunting trip in Danbury, Connecticut. They rear-ended the couple’s Lamborghini, pulled them out, and drove off.

An off-duty FBI agent nearby saw the attack. He followed the suspects, recorded license plates, and alerted police. The kidnappers crashed during the escape. Officers arrested most of them within hours.

Authorities later charged Veer Chetal with federal crimes tied to the original theft. Other members of the group also face charges. 

Investigators traced the stolen Bitcoin and recovered a large portion of the 4,100 BTC.

Kidnapping of Crypto Influencer’s Father in France

• Date: December 2024
• Victim: 56 year old father of a well-known French crypto influencer (based in Dubai)

A group of attackers broke into the family’s home in eastern France, tied up the wife and adult daughter, and abducted the father. The kidnappers transported him to Normandy and demanded ransom from his son, who is a crypto influencer. 

The attackers released the women, but they held the father captive for about 24 hours, beaten and doused in gasoline as a threat. Police later found him tied up in the trunk of a car, alive but injured.

Caution for Crypto Content Creators and Founders

Public crypto figures can face real-world risks, no matter if they are developers, creators, or investors. Criminals target anyone who appears involved with wealth or high-value assets. 

• Avoid flaunting wealth: Individuals involved in crypto should avoid boasting about luxury items such as cars, watches, or portfolio wins. Social media posts should not include travel details, expensive purchases, or geotags. 
• Avoid reusing wallet addresses: Crypto holders must not reuse the same wallet address across platforms. Once an address becomes linked to an identity, even indirectly, any activity tied to it becomes traceable on the blockchain. 
• Change daily patterns: Those involved in crypto should vary routines. Avoid predictable schedules to reduce exposure and tracking risks. 
• Keep sensitive details offline: Locations, habits, and personal schedules should remain private. Avoid sharing these details in messages, interviews, or platforms used for crypto activity. 
• Never engage with unknown contacts: Criminals often pose as clients, collaborators, or media professionals. Individuals involved in crypto should ignore unsolicited messages, invitations, or introductions unless verified through trusted sources. 
• Keep family private: Relatives often become the easiest target when criminals cannot access the primary individual. Public-facing crypto figures must never link family members to wallets, domains, or content. 
• Use aliases: It is a good practice to avoid connecting real names to wallets, web domains, or company filings. Pseudonyms reduce risk. 
• Secure every device: Devices used for crypto should be locked, encrypted, and regularly backed up offline. Avoid using shared systems for sensitive access. 
• Stay informed: The threat landscape changes fast. Individuals involved in crypto must follow trusted security sources, study real case examples, and keep up with known scams and breach tactics.

Conclusion

One of crypto’s strengths is its built-in privacy. But when investors lose that privacy, they can become targets. These cases show how crypto attacks do not stay in the digital world; criminals take them offline, aiming at homes, families, and even fellow attackers. 

As crypto use grows, real-life threats grow with it. That’s why investors must treat privacy and security as ongoing habits, not one-time setups. Keeping crypto truly private is the best defense against becoming the next target.

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