French police rescue co-founder of €1.3bn crypto startup Ledger after kidnapping

French gendarmes stand alert on a street in Mereau, near Vierzon, central France on January 23, 2025, as they secure the area following the kidnapping of David Ballard - the co-founder of a company specialising in securing cryptoassets. The co-founder of a company specialising in securing cryptoassets, who was kidnapped on January 21, in France's Cher department for ransom, was released by the gendarmerie on January 22, the Paris public prosecutor's office, which is leading the investigation said. David Balland, a partner and co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped from his home in the early hours of January 22, he was then held 'at another address', the public prosecutor's office said. (Credit: TOM MASSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The co-founder of French crypto unicorn Ledger and his wife have been rescued after an outlandish Parisian kidnapping attempt resulted in 10 arrests.

David Balland and his wife were abducted in the early hours of Tuesday morning, they were separated and taken to different locations, according to Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau.