When did having crypto wealth become a liability that could cost you your fingers? Just ask the growing list of crypto millionaires and their families who’ve learned the hard way that digital fortunes paint real-world targets on their backs.
The numbers tell a grim story. With 22 physical crypto-related attacks already documented by mid-May 2025, this year is on track to shatter 2024’s record of 32 cases. France has emerged as an unlikely hotspot, with six kidnapping incidents in 2025 alone. Apparently, the City of Light is now the City of Crypto Crime. The rise of these attacks reflects the broader professionalization of crime in the cryptocurrency space. The surge in attacks coincides with record ransomware payments targeting both individuals and businesses.
In just 5 months of 2025, crypto-related attacks nearly match all of 2024, with Paris becoming ground zero for digital wealth crimes.
The attacks are brutally simple. Criminals identify targets through social media or public appearances, then strike – often going after family members instead of the actual crypto holders. The violence is medieval. Multiple victims have lost fingers during ransom negotiations.
In one particularly brazen case, three teenagers in Las Vegas forced their victim to surrender $4 million in crypto and NFTs before abandoning him in the desert. He walked five miles to safety. Not exactly the Vegas vacation story you want to tell at parties.
The Ledger co-founder kidnapping sent shockwaves through the crypto community. David Balland and his partner endured finger amputation during ransom demands. French police deployed 200 officers to crack the case, eventually arresting nine suspects.
Another crypto millionaire’s father lost a finger during his ordeal in Paris. Even a crypto influencer’s father was held hostage during a twisted New Year’s Eve celebration.
Law enforcement is fighting back. Multiple arrests have been made, including the alleged mastermind behind the Balland kidnapping. But the criminals are sophisticated, laundering stolen crypto through multiple wallets, mixers, and privacy coins.
The psychological impact ripples through the entire crypto community. Who would’ve thought that the biggest threat to crypto holders wouldn’t be market crashes or regulatory crackdowns, but good old-fashioned kidnapping?
Welcome to 2025, where your crypto wallet might just cost you a finger – or worse.
