Summary
- Six individuals allegedly attempted to kidnap the spouse of Sébastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, at their residence in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne.
- Authorities arrested two teenagers linked to the event, with four additional suspects still unaccounted for.
- This event is part of a troubling increase in crypto-related violence in France, which has seen 135 kidnapping attempts in 2023 alone.
This week, reports emerged that the wife of Sébastien Borget, co-founder of the metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox, was the target of a kidnapping attempt at their home in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne, according to local news sources.
According to police information shared by Le Journal de Dimanche, one suspect approached the Borget home posing as a delivery person and carrying a cardboard box. When Borget’s wife opened the gate, five accomplices rushed in and tried to force her into a Citroën C3, but they fled when neighbors intervened.
Two teenagers, identified as Mateo V., born in 2010, and Walid H., born in 2009, both from Pantin in Seine-Saint-Denis, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping attempt.
At the time of their arrest, authorities reportedly found the duo in possession of a fake gun, zip ties, and balaclavas. Four other individuals believed to be involved in the incident are still at large.
Borget expressed gratitude for the support he received following the incident in a tweet, stating, "I am truly touched by the outpouring of love, thoughtful messages, and deeply caring words for my family."
💙 Thank you for the outpouring of love, thoughtful messages, and deeply caring words for my family. We’re truly touched by your kindness and support.
— Sebastien 🏞 (@borgetsebastien) May 21, 2026
Crypto Kidnappings in France
France has become a hotspot for so-called "wrench attacks," where crypto owners are threatened with abduction and violence to access their wallets. According to JDD, the National Directorate of the Judicial Police has recorded 41 kidnapping attempts related to cryptocurrency this year.
In total, there have been 135 documented crypto-related kidnapping incidents in France in 2023, accounting for nearly 80% of such cases across Europe. This alarming trend has led to urgent government action, with 88 individuals charged across 12 ongoing judicial investigations, raising security concerns for blockchain professionals.
Last month, Jonathan Riss, a Blockchain Intelligence Analyst at CertiK, informed Decrypt that France is among the top three nations globally for personal data breaches, referencing a leak at the national ID agency ANTS that compromised the personal information of 12 million citizens.
This latest kidnapping attempt comes amid several notable crypto-related crimes in France, including the kidnapping and mutilation of Ledger co-founder David Balland, a home invasion targeting the CEO of Binance France, and the abduction of a magistrate and her mother for a cryptocurrency ransom.
In response to the crisis, French authorities are taking measures. During Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Minister Delegate Jean-Didier Berger announced preventive initiatives, including a dedicated prevention platform, while some French cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families have been provided with increased security.