The daughter of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat narrowly escaped a terrifying kidnapping attempt in Paris, highlighting a disturbing rise in violent attacks targeting crypto executives and their families.
Kidnapping Attempt Thwarted by Courage and Community
On May 13, three masked men ambushed Noizat’s daughter while she was walking with her two-year-old son and her partner in Paris’ 11th district. The assailants, reportedly posing as delivery personnel, attempted to force them into a van.
During the scuffle, the male partner sustained injuries while trying to protect the family. In a dramatic turn, Noizat’s daughter wrestled a gun from one of the attackers and tossed it away. Witnesses, alerted by the commotion, rushed to help. One bystander reportedly threw a fire extinguisher at the attackers.
The assailants fled the scene, leaving the van behind. All three victims received treatment for minor injuries at a nearby hospital. Authorities have launched an investigation, led by the Brigade for the Suppression of Banditry, a specialized French police unit.
Crypto Executives Under Threat
This incident is just the latest in a troubling trend of violent crimes linked to the crypto sector. Industry leaders are increasingly becoming high-profile targets.
- In January, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped from his home in central France. He was held for over 24 hours before being rescued in a police raid.
- Just this month in Las Vegas, three teens allegedly kidnapped a man at gunpoint after a crypto event, stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and NFTs.
- Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Casa, maintains a GitHub list documenting dozens of offline crypto-related robberies, including 22 incidents already reported this year.
According to crypto attorney Sasha Hodder, physical theft is now evolving beyond traditional cyber tactics like SIM swapping or phishing. She and others warn that public displays of wealth can increase the risk of real-world violence.
Industry Leaders Call for Caution
Michael Englander, CEO of crypto exchange Plasbit, called the Paris attack a wake-up call. “If you’re in crypto and still flaunting it online, you’re not just stupid, you’re putting your family in danger,” he said in a May 13 post on X.
The University of Cambridge reported last year that these “wrench attacks” — where force is used to gain access to crypto wallets — often go unreported. Victims fear further exposure or retaliation. The study found attackers come from all backgrounds, including organized crime and even personal acquaintances.
This recent attempted abduction serves as a stark reminder: in the crypto world, digital wealth can attract very real dangers.
