Crypto kidnapping: 12 years in prison for the kidnappers of the wife of a cryptomillionaire in Belgium

An abduction targeting cryptos in the heart of Brussels

On December 20, 2024, four hooded individuals intercept the wife of Stéphane Winkel in front of their home in Forest and theBy force to climb into a van registered in France. Warned in a few seconds, the cryptomillionaire alerts the police: a hunt begins over 100 km and ends near Bruges, when the ravisseurs vehicle ends its race in a ditch.

The three adults inside are arrested immediately, and a minor is referred to the Youth Court. During the investigation, defendants speak of “Sponsors” anonymous who would have threatened them with death to have them executed the plan. But the court of the 47ᵉ Chamber rejected this version, holding the aggravated hostage taking and pointing to a finger “Professional operating mode”.

🔒 Faced with the resurgence of kidnappings: 5 strategies to protect you

The three men were sentenced to twelve years in prison each. In addition to that, the entrepreneur's wife, as well as her husband, are allocated more than a million euros under moral and material damage. It must be said that this abduction will have had lasting consequences on the family: the entrepreneur's wife is still unable to work while Stéphane Winkel, February 19, 2025, announced put an end to his YouTube channel following this abduction ::

Thanks to the cryptos, I was 100 % free (…) but my wife's kidnapping has turned everything upon, threatening this freedom. So I took the initiative to stop my public exhibition and take care of my family.

The court nevertheless stresses that the brains of the operation still run; the survey, managed in cooperation with Europol, continues to Identify instigators and their possible network. One of the presumed sponsors of certain kidnappings would have been arrested in Morocco, but the investigations will say more about the operation of this network.

Ledger: the best solution to protect your cryptocurrencies 🔒

A verdict hailed by the crypto ecosystem

This verdict is praised by the members of the Crypto ecosystem, Starting with Eric LarchevèqueCo-founder of Ledger:

Bravo to Belgian justice! 12 years in prison + 1 million euros fine for the three kidnappers (…) I expect the same firmness on the part of French justice.

A reaction that reflects the relief of a sector shaken in recent months by the series of violent kidnappings against ransom, targeting known and wealthy personalities of the world of cryptocurrencies, which takes place in Europe, and particularly in France.

👉 Kidnapping crypto in France: what do entrepreneurs want and how to protect them?

Since the beginning of 2025, cases of crypto-kidnappings have been raised in the country, mostly in the Paris region. In January there was the abduction of David Balland, co -founder of Ledger, who had a cut finger. Then the revelation of an attempt at kidnapping targeting a tax -owned taxman, thwarted near Lyon.

Last May, the father of a young investor in cryptos and online poker had been kidnapped; And The daughter of the CEO of Paymium escaped an attempt to kidnap. Finally, in June, a new Cryptos investor was the target of an abduction in the Paris region.

Start your crypto adventure with our step-by-step guide

Advertisement

Source: X

After training in journalism, I worked for a few years in general press before discovering the world of personal finance and the scholarship. Fallen into cryptos since 2020, I am particularly interested in the decryption of news that influence the Cryptos markets. My goal? Always teach my readers more by providing the most precise and the most just possible information.

Justine Ferrari

171 articles