David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a prominent crypto hardware wallet company, was released after being kidnapped from his home in France earlier this week. The incident involved a ransom demand made in cryptocurrency and concluded late Wednesday following 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 period, the kidnappers relocated him to an undisclosed site.
French authorities remained discreet throughout the process, classifying the case as “ultra-sensitive” to ensure safety. Reports indicate that the kidnappers requested a ransom in cryptocurrency, the precise amount of which is yet to be revealed. In a disturbing development, it was reported that the kidnappers sent a human finger as part of their ransom demand, although officials have not confirmed this detail.
Balland Rescue Operation - Ledger Co-Founder Liberation
The French National Gendarmerie, acting under the jurisdiction of the Paris prosecutor’s office, undertook covert actions to locate Balland and apprehend the individuals involved in his kidnapping.
This coordinated mission culminated in Balland’s release on Wednesday night. Following his rescue, he is receiving medical attention, though the full extent of his injuries and trauma has yet to be disclosed.
This incident spotlights the heightened risks that prominent personalities within the cryptocurrency field face, given that substantial assets and sensitive information make them appealing targets for criminals.
Rumors quickly swirled upon news of Balland’s kidnapping, suggesting that another Ledger co-founder, Eric Larchevêque, had also been taken. These speculations arose from a social media post that featured an image of Larchevêque and mentioned a high-ranking Ledger executive being held for ransom. However, Grégory Raymond, co-founder of The Big Whale, promptly refuted these claims, assuring that Larchevêque was safe and uninvolved in the incident while urging caution against spreading unverified information, which could impede ongoing investigations.
🔴 NEWS @TheBigWhale_
We can confirm that @EricLarch (Ledger co-founder) is not linked to the kidnapping rumors.
Exercise caution with published information that could jeopardize an ongoing investigation in France and potentially someone else’s life.
— Grégory Raymond 🐳 (@gregory_raymond) January 22, 2025
As the adoption of cryptocurrency accelerates, the necessity for heightened physical and digital security measures becomes increasingly significant. The kidnapping of Balland serves as a stark reminder of the real-world threats facing individuals in the cryptocurrency sector.
Ledger has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, and investigations by French authorities are ongoing.
