Ledger co-founder David Balland released after kidnapping: Bloomberg

Quick Take
- Ledger co-founder David Balland has reportedly been freed after being kidnapped.
- Balland was allegedly held captive for a day, during which kidnappers demanded a substantial ransom in cryptocurrency.


David Balland, retired co-founder of France-based crypto hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, has reportedly been released after being kidnapped.
Balland was taken from his home in the early hours of Tuesday and freed Wednesday night following a police operation, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office. The kidnappers reportedly demanded a significant ransom in cryptocurrency, according to the prosecutor’s office.
After the abduction, Balland was reportedly transported to another location, where he was held captive. Emergency services are currently treating him, per the prosecutor’s office.
The news comes a day after rumors surfaced about the kidnapping of Ledger’s other co-founder, Eric Larchevêque. However, Grégory Raymond, co-founder of France-based crypto news and research outlet The Big Whale, clarified that the rumors were inaccurate and that Larchevêque was not involved in any kidnapping incident.
The Block reached out to Ledger for comment on Thursday. Ledger declined to make a statement on Wednesday amid the rumors.
Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.
© 2024 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.