Founder of cryptocurrency wallet 'Ledger' kidnapped



It has been revealed that David Berland, co-founder of the cryptocurrency wallet maker Ledger , and his wife have been kidnapped. Both men have reportedly been released.

Co-founder of French Crypto Startup Ledger Freed After Kidnapping - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-23/co-founder-of-french-crypto-startup-freed-after-kidnapping

Ledger is a manufacturer of hardware wallets that can store virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Tony Fadell, known as the creator of the iPod, is also involved in Ledger, and the company offers a lineup of multiple wallets for different purposes.



Ledger was founded in 2014 and has grown to 700 employees at eight locations in Paris, Biazon, London, Portland and Singapore at the time of writing. More than 6 million Ledger wallets have already been sold, and in 2023 the company successfully raised 100 million euros (approximately 16.3 billion yen) to reach a corporate value of 1.3 billion euros (approximately 212 billion yen).

Meanwhile, it was revealed that Ledger co-founder Berland and his wife had been kidnapped. Berland was taken from his home in France on January 21, 2025, and the criminal group was demanding a ransom from another co-founder.

Berland was released the next day, on January 22, 2025, and his wife was released on January 23, 2025. Berland sustained injuries to his hand and is receiving treatment. According to the prosecutor's announcement, the criminal group demanded that the ransom be paid in virtual currency. Some of the ransom was actually transferred to the criminal group, but most of it was successfully tracked and seized. In addition, 10 suspects have already been detained, nine of whom are men and one woman, aged between 20 and 40 years old.

Ledger CEO Pascal Gautier said he had been in contact with the Berland couple since their release and was able to confirm their safety.




Related Posts:

in Note, Posted by log1o_hf