Virtual Asset Businessman's Father Kidnapped in Paris and Rescued… Series of Violent Crimes Targeting Virtual Assets

A kidnapping incident targeting virtual assets (cryptocurrency) occurred in France.

According to Le Monde on the 4th (local time), a man in his 50s, Mr. A, the father of a virtual asset businessman, was kidnapped by four masked men in the 14th district of Paris at around 10:30 a.m. on the 1st.

Mr. A is known to be the father of a businessman who runs a virtual asset marketing company in Malta and France. It is reported that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 5 to 7 million euros (approximately 7.9 to 11 billion KRW).

The investigation authorities rescued Mr. A, who was confined in a house in a suburban city of Paris, at around 9 p.m. on the 3rd, two days after the incident, through a special operation. However, it is reported that Mr. A suffered serious injuries, including having his fingers severed.

Crimes targeting virtual assets have been occurring continuously recently. In France, on January 21, David Ballant, the co-founder of Ledger, was also kidnapped and rescued. The founder Ballant also suffered torture, including having his fingers severed.