The wife of Sébastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, was targeted in a kidnapping attempt at their home in Villenoy, France this week. Two teenagers were arrested carrying a fake handgun, zip-tie restraints, and balaclavas, while four other suspects remain at large. The incident adds to France’s severe surge in crypto-targeted kidnappings, with 135 documented cases since 2023.
The wife of Sébastien Borget, co-founder of metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox, was targeted in a kidnapping attempt at their French home this week. One individual approached the residence disguised as a deliveryman, and five accomplices attempted to drag her into a vehicle before neighbors intervened.
Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping attempt. Authorities allegedly discovered the pair carrying a fake handgun, zip-tie restraints, and balaclavas at the time of their arrest.
In a tweet, Borget said he was “truly touched” by the messages of support he had received. “Thank you for the outpouring of love, thoughtful messages, and deeply caring words for my family,” he stated.
France has emerged as an epicenter of so-called “wrench attacks,” where crypto owners are threatened with kidnapping to force access to their wallets. The National Directorate of the Judicial Police has recorded 41 crypto-linked kidnapping attempts since the start of the year.
To date, there have been 135 total crypto-related kidnapping incidents in France documented since 2023. The surge has prompted urgent government intervention, with 88 charged across 12 active judicial investigations.
Last month, Jonathan Riss, Blockchain Intelligence Analyst at CertiK, mentioned that France “ranks among the top three countries worldwide for personal data breaches.” He cited a leak at national ID agency ANTS that exposed the personal data of 12 million citizens.
The latest kidnap attempt follows several high-profile crypto-targeted crimes in the country. These include the kidnapping and mutilation of Ledger co-founder David Balland and the abduction of a magistrate and her mother for a crypto ransom.
French officials have scrambled to address the crisis. During Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Minister Delegate Jean-Didier Berger unveiled preventive measures including a dedicated prevention platform.
