Kidnapped co-founder of Ledger released as French police hunt for perpetrators

After astir 24 hours successful captivity, David Balland, a co-founder of the cryptocurrency wallet supplier Ledger, has been released.

Balland was abducted connected Tuesday successful the metropolis of Vierzon successful cardinal France by a highly nonrecreational radical of kidnappers, according to a root adjacent to the matter.

He was released aft the kidnappers demanded an undisclosed sum successful cryptocurrency and is receiving aesculapian attraction for injuries sustained during his ordeal, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.

It is unclear whether a ransom was paid. Officials person not released details connected Balland’s injuries. A Ledger typical declined to remark connected the crime.

Investigation

The French police’s elite tactical unit, the GIGN, arsenic good arsenic the cybercrime and organised transgression sections of the Paris prosecutor’s office, are starring an probe into the kidnapping.

Ledger was founded successful 2014 and offers an offline hardware instrumentality for crypto users to support their cryptocurrencies safe. The institution is worthy $1.4 billion, according to its latest raise.

Violent transgression cases involving cryptocurrencies are becoming much communal astir the world.

Last month, a US tribunal convicted Remy St Felix, 24, for starring a “robbery crew” targeting cryptocurrency owners successful convulsive location invasions crossed 4 states.

In April 2023, St Felix, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and an accomplice “assaulted, zip-tied, and held the unfortunate astatine gunpoint, and threatened much unit against the unfortunate and the victim’s spouse, portion different co-conspirators transferred much than $150,000 successful cryptocurrency from the victim’s account,” according to the US Department of Justice.

Updated connected January 23 to adhd that a Ledger typical declined to comment.

Liam Kelly is simply a Berlin-based newsman for DL News. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected]. Ben Weiss is DL News’ Dubai Correspondent. Got a tip? Email at [email protected].