Ledger’s co -founder and wife rescued after the demand for rescue in cryptography kidnapping

David Balland, co -founder of Ledger, an outstanding manufacturer of French cryptocurrency hardware wallet, and his wife has been released safely after his kidnapping earlier this week.

The Paris prosecutor also revealed that the couple was kidnapped from their residence during the early hours of Tuesday, January 21, and transported to an unleashed place.

The Bloomberg report declared that the kidnappers demanded a substantial rescue in the cryptocurrency. Police successfully located and released Balland during an operation on Wednesday night. While details about the rescue remain limited, emergency services provide medical attention to the victim.

The incident, which surprised the technological community, occurs in the middle rumor Of another supposed kidnapping that involves Eric Larchevêque, who turns out to be the other co -founder of Ledger. However, Grégory Raymond, co -founder of Crypto News Outlet The Big Whale, dismissed These statements, confirming that Larchevêque did not participate.

Founded in 2014, Ledger is recognized for its hardware wallets that ensure out -of -line digital assets, protecting users from cyber threats. The company, valued at € 1.3 billion (approximately $ 1.42 billion), raised € 100 million ($ 109 million) in 2023 and employs around 700 people.

According to the “Bitcoin” known “physical attacks file, held by Casa Jameson Lopp, there have been at least six attacks listed only in 2025 just before the Balland incident.

As previously reported, Dean Skurka, CEO of the Canadian Wonderfi cryptocurrency firm, was kidnapped in Toronto during the peak time in November. The Executive was released unharmed after paying a ransom of $ 720,000. In a statement, Skurka assured users that Wonderfi’s funds and data were not affected. The incident coincided with the Wonderfi profit report, which highlighted an increase in income of 153% year after year.