A pregnant woman and child were nearly abducted in Paris in a brazen attack tied to a growing wave of organized crime targeting crypto executives in France.
At a Glance
- 25 suspects are facing trial for attempting to kidnap crypto leaders and their families
- The pregnant daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat were assaulted in Paris
- This is the third violent attack on crypto figures in France in recent months
- A second kidnapping plot in Nantes was uncovered during investigations
- Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has now met with crypto leaders amid rising alarm
Target: Crypto Elite
When masked assailants lunged from a van to abduct the pregnant daughter and young grandson of cryptocurrency executive Pierre Noizat on May 13, it shocked the streets of Paris. But it wasn’t an isolated act of violence. Videos of the attack quickly spread on social media, capturing the terrifying scene as bystanders leapt into action. According to France24, a local man used a fire extinguisher to fight off the attackers, allowing the family to escape with minor injuries.
The attackers didn’t choose their target at random. Noizat is the CEO of Paymium, a major crypto firm. French officials believe the motive was ransom—leveraging fear and family to extort untraceable digital currency. As disturbing as that sounds, it’s not new: this was the third attack on France’s crypto community in just a few months.
Watch a report: 25 suspects in crypto kidnapping plot face judge.
Surge of Organized Crime
The Noizat case cracked open a wider plot. Investigators uncovered another planned kidnapping near Nantes, foiling it just in time. That discovery brought the total number of suspects to 25, now facing charges before a French judge. These are not crimes of opportunity, but rather a web of calculated operations resembling cartel-style abductions seen in Latin America.
A prominent entrepreneur captured the community’s frustration, warning that France risks becoming like Mexico if such violence goes unchecked. His quote, urging officials to “stop the Mexicanisation of France,” sparked nationwide debate and emphasized the gravity of the threat facing this emerging sector.
Pierre Noizat, who later praised the “exemplary” police response, voiced gratitude for his family’s safety but stopped short of absolving the system that let it get this far. That police acted quickly in this case is cold comfort when earlier attacks didn’t prompt stronger security protections.
Official Response Under Fire
It took three attacks and a narrowly avoided fourth for Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to convene an emergency session with crypto executives. His belated meeting aimed to rebuild trust, but the damage may be done. Many in France’s digital asset space now fear their wealth and visibility make them walking targets—while the government scrambles to catch up.
Critics argue that authorities failed to recognize early warning signs, reacting instead of anticipating. In a sector often viewed with skepticism by traditional financial institutions, some believe that political inertia may have worsened the delay.
As the 25 suspects await judgment, the broader question lingers: will France enact the structural reforms needed to protect innovators in one of the world’s fastest-growing financial sectors? Or will a climate of fear push the next generation of tech entrepreneurs elsewhere?
