Brussels court delivers justice in crypto abduction case

Brussels Criminal Court sentenced three kidnappers to twelve years imprisonment each. They attacked crypto entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel’s wife outside their Forest home.

The December 20, 2024, crypto abduction forced the couple to relocate completely. Winkel abandoned his cryptocurrency YouTube channel following the traumatic kidnapping attempt that devastated their lives.

Brussels court delivers justice in crypto abduction case

The 47th Chamber of the Brussels Criminal Court sentenced three kidnappers to twelve-year prison terms. They abducted Stéphane Winkel’s wife in a coordinated assault in front of their residence in Forest. The kidnappers abducted the crypto billionaire’s wife on December 20, 2024.

Police officers acted swiftly following Winkel’s report to the authorities regarding the crypto kidnapping. The police pursued the getaway van along Belgian roads for approximately an hour. The chase stopped after the car had an accident near Bruges, leading to arrests.

Court hearings revealed that the masterminds of the operation remain unidentified and at large. Three convicted defendants claimed that they were issued death threats forcing them to participate. Judges dismissed such allegations as empty during court hearings.

One youth was also part of the kidnapping conspiracy and has separate juvenile court cases. The convicted kidnappers owe more than one million euros in civil restitution. The restitution is paid directly to the traumatized victims for what they went through.

The Winkel family suffered tremendous psychological trauma following the December attack. They were forced to move out of their Forest home owing to continued security threats. Stéphane’s wife cannot work anymore after the traumatic experience of being kidnapped.

The crypto business owner chose to abandon his popular YouTube channel completely. He had previously given free cryptocurrency tips to interested viewers on a daily basis. Winkel said that he had to protect his family and minimize public exposure. The attempted kidnapping stole their freedom and safety forever.

Global surge in crypto-targeted abduction cases

Cryptocurrency holders across different countries are exposed to increasingly violent crime targeting their virtual wealth. Several high-profile abductions were carried out in 2025, which is an ominous development in crypto violence.

Paris saw a series of assaults on crypto influencers in May 2025. The father of a French crypto millionaire was kidnapped with the kidnappers demanding 5-7 million euros ransom. The kidnappers amputated one of the victim’s fingers to compel cooperation. French police freed him after 58 hours and arrested five suspects.

A second Paris meeting on May 13 involved the crypto CEO’s grandchild and daughter. Three men in masks attempted to abduct them at gunpoint but were thwarted. The kidnap attempt was thwarted by the child’s father and other passersby.

David Balland, Ledger wallet company co-founder, was the victim in January 2025. Kidnappers kidnapped Balland and his business partner from his home in central France. The kidnappers demanded 10 million euros and amputated one of Balland’s fingers. The victims were later released, with several suspects in custody.

New York City experienced extended cases of torture against crypto millionaires. Italian crypto investor Valentinoofr Carturan was kidnapped for 17 days. Other crypto investors tortured him by hanging him, subjecting him to electric shock, and threatening him with chainsaws. They tried to make him disclose Bitcoin wallet credentials with a value of 28 million dollars.

Belgian authorities arrested ten French suspects in March to abduct a relative of a crypto entrepreneur. Investigators found equipment designed for the installation of a torture chamber, pointing to the planned nature of such crimes.

Security concerns bring about lifestyle changes for crypto entrepreneurs

Cryptocurrency millionaires and their families are more under scrutiny than ever before to change their public image. The Winkel kidnapping case shows the effect of violent crime on the owners of cryptocurrency beyond monetary loss. Victims are faced with tough decisions between business and security.

Stéphane Winkel closed down his popular YouTube channel after his wife attempted to kidnap him. Earlier, he provided free cryptocurrency advice to thousands of subscribers in regular videos. It was his primary means of engagement with the cryptocurrency community.

The entrepreneur listed family security as his top priority after the December attack. Social media promotion and educational materials posed safety threats. Winkel conceded that success with cryptocurrencies drew unwanted attention from criminal networks.

Criminal organizations increasingly probe crypto entrepreneurs through their online interactions and social media remarks. Public social media pages, YouTube accounts, and public speaking at conferences are treasure troves of information for potential attackers. The online history helps criminals identify wealthy targets and their families.

The psychological impact on crypto families is more widespread than immediate trauma from assaults. Most successful crypto investors today have personal security or relocate to safer jurisdictions. Others forego public-facing business operations entirely in order to reduce risk.

North American and European police forces record rising attempts at crypto abduction. Criminals target owners of cryptocurrencies as valuable commodities with liquid funds hard to track. The distributed nature of virtual money makes recovery challenging for victims.

Security experts now counsel crypto business operators on best security practices in operations. They encompass restricting public exposure, changing daily habits, and maintaining family protection measures.

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