Masked men in Paris try to abduct crypto exchange CEO's daughter & grandson in broad daylight

Masked men in Paris tried to abduct the daughter and grandson of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur in broad daylight on May 13, but failed in their attempt, according to local police.

The kidnap attempt that took place in Paris's 11th district was averted as the woman and her husband fought off the attackers, who fled in a van as passersby rushed over to help, FranceNews24 and BBC reported, citing AFP.

The couple and their child suffered light injuries and were taken to hospital.

The kidnap attempt

Local media Le Parisien reported that the scene unfolded along the Rue Pache street at around 8:20am local time.

Videos of the botched abduction shared to social media showed three masked men in hoodies attempting to force the woman and her child into what looked like a white delivery van.

When the woman's husband tried to fight them off, he was beaten over the head.

The couple screamed for help as the men tried to pull them apart.

During the struggle, the woman appeared to grab a gun from one of the men and throw it away.

The weapon was later found to be a replica air gun, according to BBC.

As passersby went over to help, the men dashed back to the van and it drove off hastily with the back door half-open.

Crypto-linked kidnappings

The 34-year-old woman is reportedly the daughter of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and chief executive officer of French crypto exchange platform Paymium.

She was five months pregnant at the time of the attack, according to Le Parisien.

The escape vehicle was later found by police on a street in the same district.

Delivery company Chronopost said in an X post that the vehicle used was most likely a fake delivery van, as it appeared to have non-compliant markings based on video footage.

This marks the latest in a string of crypto-linked kidnappings of late.

In January, French crypto firm co-founder David Balland and his wife were kidnapped from their home in central France, Reuters reported.

When found by police, Balland had a mutilated hand from the kidnapping.

In May, French police also rescued the father of a crypto-millionaire.

Kidnappers had demanded up to 7 million euros (S$10.19 million) in ransom.

Top image from @cryptonator1337/X