French police have successfully rescued David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, the leading crypto hardware wallet, and his wife who were kidnapped by a violent group in Vierzon, France, on Tuesday, according to French outlet Le Parisien Balland was taken care of by emergency services and must receive medical treatment,” the Paris prosecutor’s office said Gregory Raymond, head of research and co-founder of The Big Whale, a Paris-based web3 outlet, confirmed the information Initial rumors on X incorrectly identified Ledger’s other co-founder According to the Paris prosecutor’s office the kidnappers made Balland and his wife get into a car and drove them to two separate locations where they were held in captivity The kidnappers then demanded a large crypto ransom and reportedly sent a finger as part of their demands Sources told Le Parisien that it belonged to Balland The National Gendarmerie Intervention Group conducted a high-stakes operation and successfully rescued Balland late Wednesday His wife was released on Thursday afternoon after being held captive in a town in Essonne The media was asked to refrain from reporting on the kidnapping for 48 hours due to the sensitive nature of the situation and the risk to Balland’s life The investigation was first handled by the prosecutor’s office in Bourges the case was quickly transferred to the Paris Inter-specialized Jurisdiction (JIRS) The suspects were believed to have ties to organized crime which falls under the jurisdiction of JIRS Multiple suspects linked to a criminal organization have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping Police are working to identify and arrest all those responsible Balland co-founded Ledger in 2014 in Vierzon Balland’s position at Ledger and close proximity to Larchevêque could have made him an attractive target The mayor of Méreau told Le Parisien “It must be a pretty serious incident because I’ve never seen anything like it in my town.” Don’t have an account? Create one Already have an account? Sign In Sign In ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " The recent abduction of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife has shaken the crypto community launched multiple interventions across Vierzon and nearby towns ultimately rescuing the victims and apprehending suspects David Balland and his wife were kidnapped from their home with the perpetrators demanding a ransom of 100 BTC (~$10 million) Balland’s severed finger was sent as proof to co-founder Éric Larchevêque GIGN and local gendarmerie raided multiple locations in Vierzon and Méreau Witnesses reported hearing explosions as officers forced entry into properties linked to the investigation with his wife freed hours later from a car where she was tied up This article is published on BitPinas: Quick Take: French Authorities Free Ledger Co-Founder in Harrowing Kidnapping Case What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond BitPinas is a news website that portrays the most accurate coverage and representation of crypto and NFT news and updates in the Philippines since 2017 and website in this browser for the next time I comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed we strive to share correct and positive information about blockchain/crypto space and the people that work tirelessly to build the reputation of the industry We don’t want Filipinos to be victims of fraud or financial crime of any sort © 2025 BitPinas - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP The handcrafted Le Chameau wellies are regularly seen on the likes of Kate Middleton The Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington boots are hand-crafted from natural chamolux rubber They boast a softer leg section that flexes as you move around cushioned sole for comfort on long days of wear Thinner leg section is flexible and unrestrictive Le Chameau's Wellington boots have been around since 1965 and have something of an iconic status in the field and country world They're now regularly seen on members of the royal family Read on for our full Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington boots review Le Chameau Vierzon boots are hand-crafted from natural chamolux rubber that's attractively matte The leg section is noticeably thinner and more flexible than we've come across before including on other higher-end boots from the likes of Barbour and Hunter and you'll need to hold firmly to the top of the boot to pull them on Your initial reaction might be that this thinner style will provide less protection but in fact the softness enables the boot to flex easily as you move around making them feel less restrictive than a firmer welly while still shielding you from prickly shrubbery the Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington boots boast an abrasion-resistant dual-density outsole designed to absorb shock as well as a reinforced shank for added stability You'll be grateful for all these features if you're wearing them for long periods of time and on hard or rocky surfaces providing the right balance of flexibility padding and support on a range of terrains The Vierzon version of these boots have a thin Le Chameau says they'll keep you comfy in temperatures down to 0°C swap in a neoprene lining that will bump up the thickness and add some extra insulation On the leg there's a waterproof gusset that can be adjusted to fit different calf sizes We only have a couple of minor quibbles on the design front there's also nothing to lever against to help you get these off (all hail Barbour's genius 'kick spur') the thinner rubber means these boots tend to pucker out a little round the ankles combined with the fairly bulky adjustable sections around the calves mean the Vierzons don't have such a smart and streamlined profile as other wellies The Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington boots don't come cheap but we maintain that if you're wearing wellies regularly it is worth investing in a high-quality boot The Le Chameau Vierzon boots look and feel premium more flexible leg section won't be to everyone's taste but there's no denying it makes these easier to move around freely in You are paying a premium for the name, and the fact they're hand-crafted – you'll find a similar level of performance in the likes of the Barbour Bede Wellingtons (although these are much thicker) But if you're looking for a top-quality boot with a side-order of prestige the Le Chameau Vierzon Wellingtons won't let you down.  home and active products from the T3 experts She has tested more mattresses than her small flat can handle and will talk at length about them to anyone who shows even a passing interest and has had to implement a one-in-one-out pillow policy for fear of getting smothered in the night As well as following all the industry trends and advancements in the mattress and bedding world she regularly speaks to certified experts to delve into the science behind a great night's sleep and offer you advice to help you get there She's currently Sleep Editor on Tom's Guide and TechRadar and prior to that ran the Outdoors and Wellness channels on T3 (now covered by Matt Kollat and Beth Girdler-Maslen respectively) The French chain Brico Dépôt has opened a second test store in its new compact format The new location in Vierzon has a sales area of 1 000 m² and reportedly offers 99 per cent of Brico Dépôt's usual range in building site quantities; the rest can be ordered The new format is divided into three zones a colour mixing system and digital stations where the entire range can be viewed and ordered larger tools or kitchen and sanitary products are collected here The third zone is a self-service drive-in for building materials All items are labelled with electronic price tags Brico Dépôt opened its first compact store in Cahors in June 2023 which is part of the British Kingfisher Group embarked on a course of modernisation three years ago One of the great strengths of the new format is that the 22 employees can be deployed flexibly All important international markets at a glanceThe unique data collection on the worldwide do-it-yourself trade DIY International+Well informed at all times.  The online magazine publishes regularly updated reports features and analyses from the global DIY industry The subscription gives you full access to the premium content marked DIY+ on this website Print issueThis is an indispensable aid to assortment design in DIY stores and specialist stores with home improvement and garden departments Brico in BelgiumBrand times fiveThe Belgian DIY market leader Brico uses five size concepts from city stores to DIY project stores… high regulatory density: the Belgian market is considered … Altex Romania takes overKingfisher sells Brico Dépôt Romania to electronics chainThe British DIY group Kingfisher is selling Brico Dépôt Romania DIY sets up in South AfricaThe Malaysian retail chain is preparing its market entry on the African continent All FieldsNow a Benelux playerBelgian service provider All Fields works for manufacturers and retailers in the DIY sector  IPM EssenPlant Power at IPM ExpressThis year IPM Essen will be offering new formats on the subject of plants