Moroccan authorities have arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French-Moroccan national, for allegedly orchestrating a series of kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families in France. Bajjou, who was subject to an Interpol red notice, was detained in Tangier on June 3, 2025, following cooperation between French and Moroccan law enforcement. Bajjou is suspected of being the mastermind behind several abductions, including the January kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner. Balland was reportedly mutilated, with a finger severed, during his captivity before being released. Other incidents linked to the network include an attempted abduction of the pregnant daughter of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat in May, the kidnapping of relatives of other crypto executives, and a July 2023 case in Élancourt where a victim's mother was held for a 30,000 euro ransom. The suspect allegedly recruited young accomplices via social media to carry out the kidnappings, often demanding large ransoms in cryptocurrency. Bajjou is also wanted for attempted murder and has a history of involvement in violent crime, extortion, and organized criminal activity. During his arrest, Moroccan police seized multiple mobile devices, knives, and cash. Bajjou will not be extradited to France due to his dual citizenship but will be prosecuted in Morocco. French authorities have transmitted case files to Moroccan prosecutors. In connection with the French cases, 25 suspects have been indicted, with reports that France accounted for 14 of 50 global attacks on cryptocurrency figures in the past year. Emergency security consultations have been offered to at-risk individuals in the sector. Separately, in New York, two men, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, have been indicted for kidnapping and torturing Italian entrepreneur Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, who is reportedly worth $30 million, for 17 days in a Nolita townhouse in an attempt to obtain his Bitcoin password. Carturan managed to escape, with video footage documenting his flight. Police seized cocaine and weapons at the scene, and both suspects remain in custody.