Compass Investments

– The latest suspect in the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland has been arrested by authorities in Spain, according to sources familiar with the case, Le Parisien and Agence France-Presse.

Balland and his wife were taken from their home in central France in January 2025 by attackers who demanded a ransom of 10 million euros for one of the founders of the leading French cryptocurrency company.

Shortly after the hostages were released last year, at least ten citizens were detained in the case, including nine guys and one girl between the ages of 20 and 40. Some of them were taken into custody and charged with serious acts such as illegal detention, torture and armed extortion. Following these incidents, French law enforcement officials identified and detained all members of the criminal syndicate except one, who fled the country and sought refuge in our country to avoid detention, reads a communiqué issued Friday by the Spanish Guardia Civil.

The alleged latest participant was detained in Andalusia (Spain) after he changed several locations throughout the territory, staying in rented online accommodations, the Spanish Guardia Civil specified. The Guardia stressed the mobilization of significant police resources in the arrest due to his “potential danger” and his involvement in a major criminal structure.

Sertic suggested that the alleged kidnappers may be linked to an extensive structure coordinated from Morocco.

The past year was marked by a record number of incidents of physical attacks on crypto-asset owners: about 70 such attacks were recorded. Particularly notable is the increase in the number of attacks in France, including the recent failed attempt to break into the home of the head of Binance France David Prinsey.