Crypto Investor Winkel’s Wife Kidnapped for Ransom in Belgium

A Belgian court has recently handed down significant sentences in a high-profile cryptocurrency-related kidnapping case. The Brussels Criminal Court sentenced three individuals to 12-year prison terms for their involvement in the abduction of the wife of local crypto entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel. The kidnappers, who attacked Winkel’s wife in December 2024, were convicted of hostage-taking after forcing her into a van and demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency. Law enforcement, alerted by Winkel, pursued the van and successfully arrested the kidnappers, freeing the victim in a daring maneuver.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the three convicted kidnappers to pay at least 1 million euros in civil damages to the victim. The court also acknowledged that the masterminds behind the kidnapping remain unidentified, rejecting the defendants’ claims that they were coerced into the crime under threat of death. The case also involves a minor, who is being handled separately by a juvenile court.

The impact of this incident on Winkel’s crypto ventures has been profound. Winkel, a well-known local crypto investor and coach, runs educational platforms such as Crypto Académie and Crypto Sun. His YouTube channel, with about 40,000 subscribers, offers free guidance to those interested in cryptocurrency. Despite receiving urgent assistance from law enforcement, the ordeal left Winkel and his wife deeply traumatized, reportedly forcing them to relocate. Winkel has since pledged to continue producing content but with a safer approach, focusing on education, simplification, and market analysis. He returned to YouTube in late June, uploading his first video since the kidnapping, which features voiceover narration only, with no on-camera appearance.

Winkel’s story is part of an alarming rise in crypto-related kidnappings worldwide, highlighting the risks faced by crypto investors who maintain public profiles. In mid-June, another crypto abduction took place in France, with perpetrators kidnapping a 23-year-old man and demanding his partner to pay 5,000 euros in cash, along with his private key to a Ledger hardware wallet. In another high-profile case in May, three men attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and CEO of crypto exchange Paymium. These incidents underscore the growing trend of targeting individuals involved in the cryptocurrency space, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures and awareness within the community.