A 26-year-old cryptocurrency influencer and TikTok content creator was reportedly kidnapped in France last weekend by a group demanding crypto in exchange for his release.
The incident, which took place in Juvisy-sur-Orge, has caught the attention of both the crypto and law enforcement communities, after an unexpected twist in the victim's crypto portfolio led to a rather unusual resolution.
Kidnappers demand crypto, get XRP bags instead
According to French media outlet Europe1, the victim, known online for his crypto trading content and boasting around 40,000 followers on TikTok, was abducted late Friday night while returning home.
Four individuals allegedly forced him into a stolen Renault Clio before driving him to an undisclosed location. There, the assailants reportedly beat him and demanded €50,000 in cryptocurrency as ransom.
But the ransom negotiations took a turn when the kidnappers examined the victim’s wallet and discovered that he had minimal available funds. As it turns out, he’d been heavily invested in XRP since 2018 and had little to no liquid crypto available for a quick transfer.
The abductors eventually sent him 1,000 USDT themselves, allegedly as a strange form of pity, and decided to release him without payment.
Case transferred to organized crime division
Following his release, the victim was treated for injuries and granted six days of temporary medical leave. French authorities have since transferred the case to the Organized and Specialized Crime Division, given the severity and nature of the abduction. As of now, no suspects have been publicly identified.
The story has sparked mixed reactions online, particularly in crypto communities where long-term holders of XRP jokingly likened the scenario to a real-life test of “diamond hands.”
Others, however, have raised concerns about the growing risks that online influencers, especially those flaunting wealth or trading activity, might face as crypto becomes more integrated into the global financial ecosystem.
