A Belgian court has sentenced three individuals to bear responsibility for their involvement in the kidnapping of local cryptocurrency entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel's wife.
According to local news agency La Dernière Heure, the Brussels Criminal Court sentenced the three kidnappers to 12 years in prison for attacking Winkel's wife in December 2024.
The criminals were convicted of hostage-taking after they kidnapped her outside her home, forced her into a vehicle, and demanded cryptocurrency ransom.
After Winkel reported the incident to the police, law enforcement tracked the van, subsequently arrested the kidnappers, and rescued the victim in a dangerous operation that forced the vehicle to a stop.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the three convicted kidnappers to pay the victim at least €1 million ($1.2 million) in civil damages.
While holding the three individuals accountable, the court acknowledged that the mastermind behind the kidnapping remains unidentified. The court also dismissed the defendants' claims that they were forced to commit the crime under death threats.
Reports indicate that a minor is also involved in the case, which is being handled separately by a juvenile court.
Winkel is a well-known local cryptocurrency investor and coach, operating educational platforms such as Crypto Académie and Crypto Sun. His YouTube channel has approximately 40,000 subscribers, providing free guidance to those interested in cryptocurrency.
Although Winkel and his wife received emergency assistance from law enforcement, the ordeal has left them deeply traumatized, reportedly forcing them to relocate.
"I consider myself a defender of freedom, but I now realize that safety must be an absolute priority for me and those around me," Winkel wrote in a post on X in January.
The entrepreneur also pledged to continue creating content but will adopt safer methods, stating:
Winkel returned to YouTube in late June, uploading his first video after the kidnapping incident. Unlike past videos, the new format features only voiceover narration without on-screen appearances.
Winkel's story is yet another example of the alarming rise in cryptocurrency-related kidnappings worldwide, highlighting the risks faced by cryptocurrency investors in maintaining a public image.
In mid-June, another cryptocurrency kidnapping incident occurred in France, where criminals kidnapped a 23-year-old man, demanding €5,000 ($5,764) in cash from his partner, as well as the private keys to his Ledger hardware wallet.
In a high-profile case in May, three men attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, co-founder and CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Paymium.
Related: Cryptocurrency theft operations target Firefox users, using counterfeit wallet extensions.
Original article: “Three Kidnappers in Belgium Cryptocurrency Case Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison”
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