Mother and Daughter Rescued in France’s Latest Crypto-Linked Kidnapping
By Pierre P Bairin and Billy Stockwell, CNN
February 10, 2026 — Paris, France
In the latest high-profile case that has renewed concerns over cryptocurrency-linked kidnappings, a mother and her daughter were rescued after being held captive for 30 hours in a garage in southern France. The dramatic rescue was made possible by the quick intervention of a passerby, according to local authorities and CNN affiliate BFMTV.
The incident began when the partner of the 35-year-old magistrate received a chilling photograph on his phone: an image of his loved one accompanied by a demand for ransom in cryptocurrency, with a threat that she would be mutilated if the payment was not made. The partner, who is involved in a cryptocurrency start-up, immediately contacted the French police, setting off a widespread manhunt involving around 160 officers.
Kidnapping in Drôme Region
The mother and daughter were confined in the municipality of Bourg-lès-Valence, in the Drôme region of France. While their captor was temporarily absent, the two women managed to escape by knocking loudly on the garage door to attract attention. A neighbor heard the commotion and opened the door, finding the women “a little dirty” but grateful for his intervention.
“They were able to take advantage of the absence of their captor to free themselves and call for help by banging forcefully on the garage door,” said Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran during a press conference on Friday. “Alerted by the noise, a neighbor intervened, opened the door, and allowed the two victims to escape.”
The women were promptly taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, and six suspects—including a minor—were arrested on Sunday in connection with the kidnapping. These individuals, primarily in their twenties, were detained in the cities of Lyon and Chambéry, local media reported.
Rise of Crypto-Linked Kidnappings
This chilling case follows a recent surge in kidnapping incidents linked to cryptocurrencies in France and beyond, often targeting individuals connected to the crypto industry or involving ransom demands paid in digital currencies such as Bitcoin.
Contrary to popular belief, cryptocurrency transactions are highly traceable because of the blockchain, a public ledger where all transactions are recorded and visible. Renaud Lifchitz, a French IT senior security consultant, told CNN last year, “Crypto works on a blockchain, and the blockchain is a public registry where everything is visible, everything is trackable, and everything is auditable.” Similarly, Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade, Vice President for Intelligence and Security Research at SentinelOne, described Bitcoin as “one of the most traceable currencies we’ve ever had.”
Other Crypto-Related Kidnappings
France has witnessed several dramatic kidnappings connected to the crypto sector recently:
- In December 2024, the wife of crypto investor and influencer Stéphane Winkel was kidnapped in Belgium and rescued after police chased the kidnapper, who crashed his car.
- In January 2025, David Balland, co-founder of the crypto wallet company Ledger, and his wife were abducted from their home. The kidnappers sent a video of Balland’s severed finger in a gruesome ransom demand before the couple was eventually freed.
- Later in 2025, the daughter of the CEO of French cryptocurrency platform Paymium narrowly escaped during a daylight kidnapping attempt in Paris, thanks to intervention by bystanders.
Ongoing Investigations
While authorities in France continue their investigations and detain suspects, similar incidents have also occurred in other countries. In the United States, the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, remains unsolved. Purported ransom demands have requested millions in Bitcoin for her safe return.
The recent rescue of the magistrate and her mother shines a spotlight on the rising trend of kidnappings tied to cryptocurrency. It underscores the risks faced by individuals involved with digital currencies and highlights law enforcement’s growing efforts to combat such crimes.
CNN’s Caroline Baum, Emma Tucker, and Muhammad Darwish contributed to this report.