French police have arrested more than 20 people after numerous temptations plots targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families.
Authorities said the arrests were linked to an investigation into recent attempts at acquiring women and children in Paris in May.
The case raises concerns about the safety of people with cryptocurrency destiny and can be targeted by criminals seeking ransom payments.
Earlier this month, French Home Minister Bruno Leciroe vowed to enhance security around the country’s crypto executives and their families.
A total of 24 people are in custody, according to French news outlet Francefo.
The arrest was linked to a failed attempt by a masked gang on May 13 to acquiring the daughter of the Paris cryptocurrency chief and young grandchild.
The pair was described by French media as a relative of Pierre Noizat, co-founder of French Bitcoin exchange platform Paymium.
Local media reported that local media arrests were made for attempted inquiring people with ties to the crypto department, blocked by police in the Nantes region of western France on Monday.
Police sources said police intervened before the attack took place.
Other incidents of lure or attempted lure have been taken across the country in recent months, including in the case of the father of a cryptocurrency billionaire who was bundled into a van by a man from the Paris Balaclavas on May 1.
The Le Parisien newspaper said his temptation demanded that his wealthy son pay a ransom of between 50,000,000 and 7 million euros.
French media said the victim was missing with one finger when he was rescued by police at a home in Paraisau south of Paris.
These cases follow the invitation of David Boland, co-founder of the cryptocurrency company Leisure, who was accused of his wife at his home in central France in January.
The pair had been rescued by police within days, and Barand had also cut his fingers, French media reported.
The criminals had demanded a ransom of 10 million euros (£8.5 million). Six men and one woman have been previously arrested in connection with the incident.
In response to the types of attacks on people with ties to the Cryptocurrency sector, Retero held an emergency meeting with industry leaders in mid-May.
At the meeting, he promised that “the entire state device” was “fully mobilized to track the perpetrators and agitators of this violence and resolve the actions,” according to French media reports.
