Four masked thugs tried to snatch the family of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat in broad daylight Paris – but picked the wrong neighborhood. Quick-thinking locals fought back with a fire extinguisher while students watched in horror. The attackers, wielding fake guns, fled their bogus delivery van when confronted by angry residents. With $132 million in Bitcoin transactions, Noizat’s wealth made his family a target. The growing connection between crypto and crime takes another dark turn.
A brazen kidnapping attempt targeting the daughter and grandson of French crypto mogul Pierre Noizat ended in failure Tuesday, thanks to quick-thinking neighbors armed with a fire extinguisher. The attack, which occurred near Square de la Roquette in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, saw four masked men in a fake Chronopost delivery van try to force the victims into their vehicle. Bad move, fellas.
The would-be kidnappers didn’t count on the fierce resistance they’d encounter. Noizat’s son-in-law took several blows from blunt objects but fought back anyway, eventually needing stitches for his troubles. A neighbor jumped into action with a red fire extinguisher, while passersby managed to snatch one of the attacker’s weapons – which turned out to be just an airsoft gun. Not exactly Ocean’s Eleven material here. The woman showed remarkable bravery as she managed to grab the attacker’s handgun during the struggle. Local elementary school students witnessed the violent scene, leaving them visibly shaken.
The incident highlights a disturbing trend in France’s cryptocurrency scene. Noizat, CEO and co-founder of Paymium, represents exactly what these criminals are after. His exchange recently processed over $132 million in Bitcoin transactions, making his family an attractive target for ransom demands. As crypto adoption expands, with 1,200 U.S. banks now authorized to offer digital asset services, security concerns for industry leaders continue to grow. Turns out getting rich in crypto comes with some unwanted attention.
The Paris prosecutor’s office immediately launched an investigation, while Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau gathered crypto sector leaders for emergency meetings. French authorities are increasingly concerned about what they’re calling the “Mexicanisation” of France – a rather blunt way of describing the rise in organized crime targeting wealthy crypto figures.
The failed kidnapping attempt has sparked renewed debate about security measures for cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families. Similar incidents have been reported across European cities, with criminals hoping to exploit the untraceable nature of crypto transactions for ransom payments.
Pierre Noizat publicly praised his family’s courage and the community’s intervention, but the message is clear: crypto wealth comes with a target on your back. The attackers fled, abandoning their van nearby – proving that sometimes, the best defense against criminals is a determined family and a well-aimed fire extinguisher.
