France summons cryptocurrency businesses after kidnappings

France's Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau speaks during a session at the Nationale Assembly, French Parliament lower house, Paris. May 13, 2025. [AFP] France on Wednesday faced calls to bolster security for cryptocurrency firms, after armed men attempted to snatch the daughter and grandson of the Paymium platform from a Paris Street and a spate of similar violent incidents. Paymium urged the authorities "to immediately adopt measures to reinforce the protection of collaborators of companies in the cryptocurrency ecosystem". French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he would meet industry professionals later this week to discuss how to prevent future kidnappings and raise risk awareness. "I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security," Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster. Tuesday's incident saw the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur narrowly escape when four masked men attacked a couple and their child in the French capital's 11th district, police sources told AFP. All three escaped with light injuries and were taken to the hospital. The woman is the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. On Wednesday, the company demanded "immediate protection" against such attacks and welcomed the French minister's initiative. Paymium, which said it was "extremely saddened" by the incident, added that "media and politicians" had an important role to play in how information about cryptocurrency is handled. "Misconceptions can easily spread, ranging from supposed wealth to criminal fantasies, unfortunately contributing to fueling misinformation and to creating a climate of insecurity," it said in a statement. Tuesday's events follow the abduction in January of French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, had his finger cut off by the kidnappers. At least nine suspects have since been detained, including the alleged mastermind. In May, attackers kidnapped a man to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Police arrested seven people after a raid to free the man. "We must jointly take measures to protect them," Retailleau said of crypto business people and their families on Wednesday. "But we will also find the perpetrators wherever they may be, perhaps even abroad," he said. The interior ministry meeting is scheduled for Friday, officials said.

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