French police arrested seven people in relation to the abduction, according to the prosecutor’s statement. The perpetrators were not identified, but are between the ages of 18 and 30.
This kidnapping follows a similar violent incident in which the co-founder of crypto company Ledger, David Balland, and his wife were abducted in January from central France and held for ransom. After the couple was separated and detained in different locations, the assailants contacted another one of the company’s co-founders to demand a ransom in cryptocurrency. The couple was eventually rescued by police, but Balland suffered mutilation to his hand.
The growing threat of violence against crypto executives and Bitcoin holders has spurred AnchorWatch, a Bitcoin insurance company, to offer a policy that insures a holder’s crypto in the event of a wrench attack. While the policy will allow holders to recoup up to $100 million of their stolen crypto, it won’t protect holders from being kidnapped or attacked.
