Belgian Court Sentences Crypto-Related Kidnappers to 12 Years After High-Profile Abduction

Following the December 2024 kidnapping of Stéphane Winkel’s wife, the Brussels Criminal Court has sentenced three individuals involved to 12 years in prison each. Winkel, a French entrepreneur known for his crypto education platforms and a YouTube channel with around 40,000 followers, saw his ventures deeply affected by the traumatic event.

Authorities tracked down and intercepted the kidnappers’ van near Bruges, halting the crime before further harm could be done. In addition to prison terms, the court ordered the perpetrators to pay a minimum of €1 million ($1.2 million) in compensation to the victim’s family.

While the convicted are now behind bars, the court revealed that the main orchestrators of the plot remain at large. The defendants’ claims of being coerced under death threats were dismissed by the judges. Furthermore, a minor reportedly involved in the crime is being dealt with separately by a juvenile court.

Despite the ordeal, Winkel is committed to continuing his educational work, though with increased caution. He stated: “No more contests or wallet demonstrations. I will focus on education, simplification, and market analysis, sharing my experience to help others avoid similar situations.”

Rising Concern Over Kidnappings in the Crypto Community

This case is part of a worrying global trend where high-profile figures in the cryptocurrency space have become targets of aggressive kidnappings or abduction attempts.

Earlier this year, an attempted kidnapping of a crypto executive was foiled when he and his wife successfully defended their child and grandchild. In another incident, a cryptocurrency millionaire’s father was abducted for a ransom demand between €5-7 million ($5.8M-$8.2M) and was eventually rescued, though he sustained injuries including the loss of a finger.

Additionally, the Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife were held hostage in January and forced to pay a €10 million ($11.7 million) ransom. The trauma from the event forced their family to relocate for safety.

Details of the Abduction

Stéphane Winkel personally shared the details of the kidnapping on his social media account. On the morning of December 20th, he contacted authorities to report that his wife had been taken hostage right outside their home in Forest, Belgium. The quick response from law enforcement led to the eventual arrest of the suspects involved.