![](\"https:\/\/images.cointelegraph.com\/images\/840_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjQtMTEvMDE5MzA4N2YtNTE2Zi03MGI1LThlNGItN2ZmZmEzMjU4ODQ5.jpg\")
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The French interior minister reportedly plans to meet cryptocurrency professionals in the aftermath of a violent kidnapping attempt on the family of a crypto exchange executive in Paris.<\/p>\n
According to a May 14 France24 report<\/a>, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has invited crypto professionals to meet him after a brazen attempt to kidnap the daughter and grandson <\/a>of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium.<\/p>\n \u201dI 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,\u201d Retailleau reportedly told the Europe 1\/CNews broadcaster.<\/p>\n On May 13, three masked men attacked Noizat\u2019s daughter while she was walking in Paris\u2019 11th district with a man and her son. The attackers tried to force Noizat\u2019s daughter and her son into a white van.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>Teens kidnap Las Vegas man at gunpoint, stealing $4M in crypto<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Passersby intervened, with one scaring the assailants while brandishing a fire extinguisher before throwing it at them as they fled. The event is now being investigated by local authorities, with the vehicle used being found abandoned nearby on the same day.<\/p>\n En plein Paris, un homme a \u00e9t\u00e9 violent\u00e9 par des individus cagoul\u00e9s, habill\u00e9s tout en noir. Ils tentaient de l’enlever. Un homme a surgi, extincteur \u00e0 la main, pour les faire fuir. \u2192https:\/\/t.co\/P0qV6PR40v<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9f4r2Gi7ho<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) May 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jameson Lopp, a cypherpunk and co-founder of self-custodial firm Casa, has created a\u00a0list<\/a>\u00a0on GitHub recording dozens of offline crypto robberies, with 22 incidents of in-person crypto-related theft so far this year. Many in the crypto industry highlight that anonymity is the only way to effectively protect holders and their close circle against so-called \u201c$5 wrench attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopp\u2019s list is likely undercounting the total number of attacks targeting people over their involvement in the crypto industry. A University of Cambridge study in September\u00a02024 found<\/a>\u00a0that these so-called \u201cwrench attacks\u201d are often underreported due to revictimization fears.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>How a $243 million crypto heist led to a real-world kidnapping<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Paris is also no stranger to these attacks. Earlier this month, Paris police\u00a0freed the father<\/a>\u00a0of a crypto entrepreneur who was held for several days in connection with a 7 million euro ($7.8 million) kidnapping plot.<\/p>\n At the start of this year, David Balland, co-founder of leading crypto hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, was\u00a0abducted from his home in central France<\/a>. He was held captive until a police operation on the night of Jan. 22 secured his release.<\/p>\n\n
Growing risk for cryptoholders<\/h2>\n
France saw its fair share of cases<\/h2>\n