A recent kidnapping attempt in Paris aimed at the daughter and grandchild of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur is part of a concerning pattern of attacks on crypto figures in France. Since January 2025, there have been three reported kidnapping incidents involving individuals associated with the cryptocurrency industry.

Violence related to cryptocurrencies is not limited to France but is a global phenomenon affecting crypto magnates increasingly.

This sheds light on the darker side of the cryptocurrency surge, where substantial wealth attracts both opportunities and risks. Aside from abductions, the crypto industry has also been marked by mysterious deaths of prominent individuals over the years.

Nikolai Mushegian was a renowned software engineer and cryptocurrency developer who played a crucial role in developing the MakerDAO project, now known as Sky, and was involved in co-founding Balancer Labs. His untimely death in Puerto Rico in October 2022, officially ruled an accident due to drowning, sparked speculation and conspiracy theories following his cryptic social media posts expressing fear for his life.

Fernando Pérez Algaba, an Argentine businessman and cryptocurrency millionaire known for his opulent lifestyle, met a tragic end when dismembered body parts were found in a suitcase near a stream in Buenos Aires Province. Investigations revealed he had been shot multiple times before being dismembered, and he had received threatening messages leading up to his demise, along with financial troubles and conflicts with local gangs.

Mircea Popescu, a Romanian Bitcoin maximalist and outspoken figure in the crypto community, passed away in Costa Rica in June 2021. He was known for his controversial views on Bitcoin and was involved in starting the Bitcoin exchange Mpex. His significant Bitcoin holdings at the time of his death and his reputation as a divisive figure continues to spark debates on his legacy in the cryptocurrency world.