David Balland, Ledger Co-Founder, leading crypto hardware wallet, has been released after being kidnapped from his home in France earlier this week. The dramatic incident, which involved a ransom demand in crypto, concluded Wednesday night after a successful police operation.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, Balland was abducted on Tuesday morning and held for nearly 48 hours. During this time, he was moved to a different location by the kidnappers.
French authorities remained tight-lipped as the case unfolded, classifying the operation as “ultra-sensitive” to protect lives.
Reports suggest that the kidnappers demanded a ransom in crypto, though the exact amount has not been disclosed. In a chilling twist, Le Parisien reported that the criminals sent a human finger as part of their ransom demand—though the details of this claim remain unconfirmed by officials.
Balland Rescue Operation – Ledger Co-Founder Liberation
The French national gendarmerie, working under the Paris prosecutor’s office, acted discreetly to track down Balland and those responsible for his abduction.
The coordinated effort led to Balland’s release on Wednesday night. He is now receiving medical care, though the full extent of his injuries or trauma has not been disclosed.
The case highlights the growing risks high-profile figures face in the cryptocurrency sector, where significant assets and sensitive data make individuals attractive targets for criminals.
Shortly after news of Balland’s kidnapping broke, rumors began circulating that another Ledger co-founder, Eric Larchevêque, had also been abducted. T
he confusion stemmed from a social media post that included an image of Larchevêque and referenced a high-ranking Ledger executive being held for ransom.
Grégory Raymond, co-founder of The Big Whale, quickly debunked these claims, confirming that Larchevêque was safe and uninvolved in the incident. He urged caution against spreading unverified information, emphasizing that it could hinder ongoing investigations.
NEWS @TheBigWhale_
We are able to assure that @EricLarch (co-founder of @Ledger) is not involved in the kidnapping rumor about him
Be careful with published information that could threaten an ongoing investigation in France and possibly someone else’s life
— Grégory Raymond
(@gregory_raymond) January 22, 2025
As crypto adoption grows, so does the need for enhanced physical and digital security measures. The Balland kidnapping serves as a sobering reminder of the real-world dangers facing those in the cryptocurrency industry.
Ledger has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident, and French authorities continue investigating.
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