Five Arrested in France Over Crypto-Linked Kidnapping

French authorities have arrested five suspects — four men and one woman — in connection with the kidnapping of a 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother near Lyon. The criminals demanded a cryptocurrency ransom linked to the judge’s partner’s crypto holdings.

The victims were held for about 30 hours and found injured but alive. Two suspects were intercepted while trying to flee to Spain, demonstrating a swift cross-border law enforcement response.

This case underscores a worrying trend of crypto-related kidnappings in France, showing that the risks for high-value crypto holders can extend far beyond digital wallets.

⸻