The final suspect in the abduction of the Ledger co-founder has been apprehended., 2026/03/23 17:53:45

The Spanish police have announced the apprehension of the last remaining suspect in the kidnapping of David Balland, the co-founder of the hardware cryptocurrency wallet company Ledger.

The individual, whose name has not been disclosed, was arrested in Andalusia. Authorities reported that the suspect had been staying in various cities across the country, renting accommodations online.

In January 2025, Balland and his wife were abducted from their home in France. The assailants aimed to secure a ransom in cryptocurrency amounting to €10 million ($11.5 million). French law enforcement successfully rescued the victims. The attackers severed one of Balland’s fingers, while his wife was confined in the trunk of a car near Paris, where she was ultimately rescued.

Shortly after the release of the Ledger co-founder, ten suspects were detained: nine men and one woman aged between 20 and 40 years. Several individuals were placed in custody on charges of kidnapping, torture, and extortion involving weapons.

“Following the incident, French authorities identified and arrested nearly all members of the criminal organization, except for one individual who fled France. He attempted to seek refuge in our country to evade arrest,” stated the Spanish police in their announcement.

According to CertiK, a company specializing in blockchain security, the number of attacks on Bitcoin holders for cryptocurrency extortion has surged by 75% over the past year. The total damage from such attacks has reached $40.9 million, as calculated by CertiK experts.