In short
- Six suspects allegedly focused the spouse of Sébastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, at their house in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne, this week.
- Two youngsters have been arrested in reference to the incident, whereas 4 different suspects stay at giant.
- The incident provides to France’s surge in crypto-targeted violence, with 135 kidnapping makes an attempt recorded since 2023.
The spouse of Sébastien Borget, co-founder of metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox, was focused in a kidnapping try at their French house this week, in line with studies in native media.
Per police sources cited in Le Journal de Dimanche, one particular person approached the Borget residence in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne disguised as a deliveryman and carrying a cardboard field. When Borget’s spouse opened the gate, 5 accomplices rushed into the courtyard and tried to tug her right into a Citroën C3, solely abandoning the kidnap try when neighbors intervened.
Two youngsters have been arrested in reference to the alleged kidnapping try, recognized as Mateo V., born in 2010, and Walid H., born in 2009, each from Pantin in Seine-Saint-Denis.
Authorities allegedly found the pair carrying a faux handgun, zip-tie restraints, and balaclavas on the time of their arrest. 4 others suspected of taking part within the incident stay at giant.
In a tweet, Borget mentioned he was “actually touched” by the messages of assist he had acquired within the wake of the incident, including, “Thanks for the outpouring of affection, considerate messages, and deeply caring phrases for my household.”
💙 Thanks for the outpouring of affection, considerate messages, and deeply caring phrases for my household. We’re actually touched by your kindness and assist.
— Sebastien 🏞 (@borgetsebastien) Might 21, 2026
France and crypto kidnappings
France has emerged as an epicenter of so-called “wrench assaults,” wherein crypto house owners are threatened with kidnapping and bodily violence with a view to drive them to provide entry to their wallets. Per JDD, the Nationwide Directorate of the Judicial Police has recorded 41 crypto-linked kidnapping makes an attempt for the reason that begin of the yr.
Up to now, there have been 135 complete crypto-related kidnapping incidents in France documented since 2023—representing almost 80% of all European instances. The surge has prompted pressing authorities intervention, with 88 charged throughout 12 energetic judicial investigations, and heightened safety considerations amongst blockchain executives.
Final month, Jonathan Riss, Blockchain Intelligence Analyst at CertiK, informed Decrypt that France “ranks among the many high three international locations worldwide for private information breaches,” citing a leak at nationwide ID company ANTS that uncovered the non-public information of 12 million residents.
The most recent kidnap try follows a number of high-profile crypto-targeted crimes within the nation, together with the kidnapping and mutilation of Ledger co-founder David Balland, a house invasion try concentrating on Binance France’s CEO, and the kidnapping of a Justice of the Peace and her mom for a crypto ransom.
French officers have scrambled to deal with the disaster. Throughout Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Minister Delegate Jean-Didier Berger unveiled preventive measures together with a devoted prevention platform, whereas choose French cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their households have been assigned enhanced safety.
Day by day Debrief E-newsletter
Begin day-after-day with the highest information tales proper now, plus authentic options, a podcast, movies and extra.