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French Magistrate Held for Crypto Ransom

Five suspects arrested after a 35-year-old magistrate and her mother were held about 30 hours in a crypto ransom plot; no ransom was paid and victims escaped injured.

  • On Feb 8, French authorities arrested five suspects after the 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother were found injured following around 30 hours captive in Bourg-lès-Valence.
  • The kidnappers sent a message and photo demanding cryptocurrency payment to the magistrate's partner, who holds a leading role at a crypto start-up during Feb 4-5 overnight.
  • Victims freed themselves by banging on the garage door and called for help without any ransom paid, while a neighbour who intervened opened the garage where victims were held.
  • Two suspects were detained while trying to take a bus to Spain, authorities said, a minor was arrested on Sunday, and ongoing searches continue with a woman in custody.
  • The case fits a pattern of kidnappings targeting wealthy crypto figures as French authorities face a string of kidnappings targeting crypto-linked wealthy individuals, including David Balland, whose kidnappers cut off his finger; Balland co-founded Ledger, valued at more than $1 billion.
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French police arrest six over crypto-linked magistrate kidnapping

French authorities have arrested six suspects, including a minor, after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around 30 hours in a cryptocurrency ransom plot, prosecutors said on Sunday.

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He demanded a ransom from the man, which he was supposed to pay in cryptocurrency.

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ledauphine.com broke the news in on Friday, February 6, 2026.
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