
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at dawn, the tranquility of Vierzon, in the Cher, is shattered. In a luxurious house, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a global leader in cryptocurrency security, is targeted. What was supposed to be an ordinary day turns into a nightmare. A daring operation, carried out by an armed group, disrupts his life and that of his partner.
A brutal intrusion into the calm of Vierzon
At the first light of day, several masked figures silently approach the business leader’s home. A door is smashed in. The crash wakes the occupants. Four hooded individuals, heavily armed, enter the house. Their objective is clear: to obtain a ransom in cryptocurrencies.
David Balland and his partner are dragged from their bed. Their captors leave no doubt about their intentions. A dark car awaits them outside. While David is forced to get in, his partner is held in a separate room, tied up and terrified. The violence of the attack leaves no room for error: they are ready for anything.
A chilling demand: cryptocurrencies or life
A few hours later, the captors’ accomplices send a terrifying message to Balland’s associates. An astronomical ransom in bitcoins is demanded. To increase the pressure, a macabre package is delivered: a severed finger, proof of their determination. The message is clear: any attempt to alert the police would mean an escalation of violence.
In an isolated hideout in the Centre-Val de Loire, Balland endures hours of torment. Tied up, under the constant watch of his captors, he is ordered to cooperate. But the criminals do not realize that their diabolical plan has already alerted the authorities.
A high-tension manhunt
From the early hours, the National Gendarmerie is mobilized. The Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (Jirs) of Paris takes charge of the investigation. Cybercrime experts analyze suspicious transactions on the blockchain, this slippery ground where the captors thought they could remain invisible.
On the ground, the special forces of the GIGN prepare to intervene. Every second counts. The slightest misstep could cost Balland his life. Thanks to crucial intelligence, investigators manage to locate a suspicious house in Méréau, not far from Vierzon.
Wednesday afternoon, the operation is launched. Elite forces break down the doors, neutralize the captors, and free Balland. Weakened but alive, the entrepreneur is immediately taken care of by a medical team.
The release of his partner, a second act
Meanwhile, his partner, held in an apartment in Essonne, waits in anguish. But the noose is also tightening around her captors. Thursday afternoon, a second raid by the GIGN secures her release. She is found in shock, but unharmed.
An industry shaken
This tragic event highlights the dangers facing players in the cryptocurrency world. Ledger, a French company valued at over 1.3 billion euros, symbolizes innovation in a rapidly expanding field. But this success also attracts covetousness.
David Balland, a discreet yet influential figure, is now marked by this drama. This attack raises questions about the security of tech entrepreneurs and the limits of cyber protection against very real threats.
The investigation continues. Authorities are seeking to establish connections between the captors and a possible international network. One question remains: did these criminals act alone, or are they part of a larger, organized system?
In the restored calm, one certainty remains: the line between the virtual world and very real dangers has never seemed so thin.