French authorities revealed Sunday that a Paris man was kidnapped Thursday in a disturbing attempt to extort cryptocurrency wealth from his son—an entrepreneur who made millions in the digital asset world. The victim was rescued late Saturday in a house located in the Essonne region, south of Paris.

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed the kidnapping was directly linked to a ransom demand tied to the man’s son’s crypto fortune. The names of both individuals have not been publicly disclosed.

According to police, five people have been arrested in connection with the crime. Four were found in or near the house where the man was being held, and a fifth was driving a suspected getaway vehicle. The suspects are now facing possible charges that include kidnapping with “torture or a barbaric act,” indicating the severity of the ordeal.

While officials have not released specific medical details, French media outlets reported that the kidnappers allegedly cut off one of the victim’s fingers to pressure the family into paying the ransom.

This latest incident is part of a growing trend in France, where high-profile crypto figures are increasingly being targeted by criminals who see digital wealth as an easy, untraceable payday.

Back in January, a co-founder of the French cryptocurrency wallet firm Ledger, David Balland, and his wife were kidnapped in a similar plot. According to police, Balland and his wife were taken from their home in the Cher region of central France by a gang demanding cryptocurrency as ransom from another Ledger executive.

French special forces from the elite GIGN unit—known for handling hostage and terror situations—were deployed to rescue both Balland and his wife in separate operations. Balland was freed on the first day, and his wife was later found tied up inside a vehicle the following day.

That case resulted in ten arrests and highlighted how the anonymity and value of cryptocurrency make digital asset holders increasingly vulnerable to coercion and physical threats.

Authorities are now warning that this new wave of digital-age kidnappings presents a serious security risk for crypto investors and entrepreneurs. Law enforcement is urging those involved in crypto to take stronger personal security measures and be cautious about publicly disclosing wealth or affiliations with digital currency ventures.

As digital currencies continue to skyrocket in popularity and value, traditional criminal tactics like kidnapping and ransom are merging with new technologies, creating a dangerous intersection of physical and cyber threats.

This weekend’s rescue in Essonne underscores the rising stakes in the crypto world—where fortunes can be built in a click, but lives can hang in the balance.