Three Get 12-Year Terms In Belgium Crypto Kidnapping
A Belgian court sentenced three kidnappers to 12 years in prison for abducting the wife of crypto entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel in December 2024. The kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency after forcing her into a van. Law enforcement, alerted by Winkel, pursued and arrested the criminals, freeing the victim. The court ordered the kidnappers to pay over 1 million euros in civil damages but noted that the masterminds behind the crime remain unidentified. Winkel, who runs educational platforms on cryptocurrency, expressed trauma from the incident and plans to adjust his content approach for safety. His case reflects a rising trend of crypto-related kidnappings globally, with similar incidents reported in France and involving other crypto figures.
