Shadow of organised crime looms over French crypto: key suspect arrested in Morocco

The French cryptocurrency sector has just experienced *major relief* with the arrest in Morocco of Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French-Moroccan national suspected of orchestrating a wave of kidnappings specifically targeting French crypto entrepreneurs.

The arrest, welcomed by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, could mark a turning point in the fight against a criminal phenomenon that has terrorised the French crypto ecosystem for months.

Bajjou's arrest in Tangier by Moroccan authorities represents *the culmination of a complex international investigation.* According to Morocco's Directorate General for National Security (DGSN), the suspect is believed to be behind the kidnapping of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, one of the most iconic French companies in the crypto sector, along with his partner.

The modus operandi revealed by the investigation is particularly sophisticated: based in Morocco, Bajjou *allegedly recruited young people online to commit these crimes in France.* This method perfectly illustrates the transnational dimension of modern organised crime, which exploits borders to evade prosecution while striking targets from a distance.

Gérald Darmanin publicly commended this judicial cooperation:

"I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which bears testament to the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly in the fight against organised crime".

This arrest comes against the backdrop of a wave of kidnappings and attempted kidnappings that shook the French crypto community in May. Authorities are investigating Bajjou's potential involvement in this series of incidents, which created a climate of fear among French crypto entrepreneurs.

These targeted attacks reveal *a worrying professionalisation of organised crime*, which now views crypto players as prime targets.

The perceived wealth of these entrepreneurs, combined with the digital nature of their assets, makes them particularly attractive prey for criminals.

The case of David Balland, a respected industry figure as co-founder of Ledger, a world leader in secure crypto wallets, perfectly illustrates this new reality.

His kidnapping *sent a shockwave through the entire French ecosystem*, highlighting the physical vulnerability of players in a sector often perceived as purely virtual.

Beyond the human tragedy, these kidnappings pose an existential threat to France's attractiveness in the cryptocurrency sector.

The country, which aims to become *a European hub for blockchain and digital assets*, cannot afford to have its entrepreneurs living in fear.

This arrest could mark a turning point in protecting the French crypto ecosystem. It demonstrates that authorities are taking these threats seriously and possess the means to pursue criminals across national borders.

The cooperation with Morocco, highlighted by Darmanin, also paves the way for a coordinated approach to combating this type of crime.

For entrepreneurs in the sector, this arrest sends a strong signal: authorities are determined to protect an ecosystem strategic to the French economy.

It remains to be seen whether it will be enough to reassure a community rattled by these repeated attacks and restore the climate of trust essential for the sector's growth.

(Libération)