French authorities have made fresh arrests in the ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of a crypto entrepreneur’s father, a case that has sent shockwaves through France’s growing cryptocurrency community. According to a report by state-owned media outlet France 24 , several individuals were detained this week in connection to the kidnapping, during which the victim’s finger was severed as part of a horrifying ransom demand. The father of the unnamed entrepreneur was held hostage for several days at a remote location, with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of up to €7 million ($8 million) in cryptocurrency. A police raid on May 3 led to the man’s release and five initial arrests, but the latest detentions suggest that investigators believe more people were involved in orchestrating the crime. Execs on High Alert Amid Surge in Kidnapping Cases The incident is just one of a rising number of crypto-related kidnapping cases reported in 2025 — many of them in France — prompting heightened security among digital asset holders and increased scrutiny from law enforcement. The French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, has reportedly called a high-level meeting to address the troubling surge in these violent crimes. While the exact number of arrests made on Tuesday remains unknown, French law allows authorities to detain suspects for up to 96 hours without formal charges in cases of serious crime. Meanwhile, on June 4, a man believed to be a key player in a network behind several crypto kidnappings was arrested in Morocco . This followed a separate operation on May 26, in which over 12 suspects were arrested in connection with crypto extortion cases in Paris. Other notable incidents this year include the attempted daylight abduction of the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat on May 13, and a March home invasion targeting crypto streamer Amouranth, where armed intruders demanded access to her digital wallets. Lack of Awareness Fuels Crimes Experts warn that many crypto users continue to underestimate the risk of physical attacks. Speaking at the 2025 Consensus conference, Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin pointed out that many criminals mistakenly believe crypto transactions are untraceable. Last week, Kraken’s head of security, Nick Percoco, echoed these concerns, highlighting the lack of “basic situational awareness” among crypto investors. A GitHub list maintained by Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp has already tracked 29 physical attacks on crypto holders this year — putting 2025 on track to surpass 2024’s total of 35 reported incidents. However, researchers at the University of Cambridge warn that many such attacks go unreported due to fear, stigma, or victim intimidation. The post French Police Arrest More Suspects in Brutal Crypto Kidnapping Case appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
