Three men attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the head of the French cryptocurrency exchange Paymium. The incident occurred on May 13, 2025, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, when the criminals tried to forcibly drag the woman and her son into a van. However, thanks to the victim’s determination and the help of bystanders, the criminal plan was thwarted.
This is reported by Business • Media
The woman fought back, and as a result, she managed to wrestle a gun from one of the attackers, leading to his disarmament. After witnesses intervened, the criminals fled in a car, which was later found abandoned. The man accompanying the woman sustained injuries while trying to protect her.
Investigation and Reaction from the Crypto Industry
The police took the victims to the hospital, and the incident is being investigated by a special unit of the French law enforcement — the Brigade for Combating Banditry. Authorities believe that the attack was planned and linked to the family’s activities in the crypto sphere.
Michael Englander, head of the Polish exchange Plasbit, expressed concern over the incident. He urged representatives of the crypto industry to be more cautious and not to publicize their activities to avoid putting their loved ones in danger. “If you are involved in cryptocurrency and continue to showcase it online, you are not just foolish; you are putting your family at risk,” noted Englander.
Increase in Offline Attacks on Crypto Owners
Experts indicate that there is a growing trend of offline attacks on crypto owners and their families. In November 2024, teenagers kidnapped a man in Las Vegas and stole $4 million in digital assets. Additionally, in January, a co-founder of Ledger was kidnapped in France, and recently, the father of another crypto businessman was taken. A similar incident occurred in Canada, where the CEO of WonderFi was abducted in downtown Toronto for a ransom of $1 million.
According to Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Casa, there have been over 20 such incidents reported since the beginning of the year. He emphasizes that the trend is increasing, and crypto asset owners cannot feel safe. Research from the University of Cambridge confirms that offline threats are becoming increasingly diverse. The so-called “key wrench attacks” often remain in the shadows due to fear of repeat crimes and involve a wide range of perpetrators — from organized gangs to acquaintances of the victim.
“If you are involved in cryptocurrency and continue to showcase it online, you are not just foolish; you are putting your family at risk” — Michael Englander.