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The Court of Brussels sentenced three men to 12 years in prison for December 2024 kidnapping the wife of the Belgian crypto investor and creator of the content of Stephane Winkel.
The condemnation, which was handed over on Thursday, comes when the European authorities face a growing number of crypto-connected cases of kidnapping.
According to prosecutors, the group grabbed Winkel’s wife outside their home on December 20 and forced her to deliver her registered in France. The attackers then tried to flee the Belgian coast.
Winkel immediately contacted the police and triggered a quick answer. Officers caught a van near Brugges and forced it to the ditch and arrested three adults inside. The fourth suspect, minor, was credited by a juvenile court.
Three imprisoned in the kidnapping of winkel but Masterminds Crypto Plot still unknown
Media socket Last hour reported that the kidnappers were convicted of hostages and attempted to blackmail cryptocurrency as a ransom.
During the court proceedings, the defendants argued that they were acting under the threat of unnamed “sponsors” who would kill them if they refused. The court dismissed this version of the events and described the crime as intentional and professional hostages.
The authorities believe that the kidnapping was financially motivated, while investigators linked it to other attempts to kidnap in connection with the crypt in Belgium and neighboring France.
While the court has now condemned those who physically conducted the law, the wider investigation remains active and officials have to identify the championship for operation.
In addition to prison, the court also ordered convicted men to pay more than EUR 1 million (approximately $ 1.2 million). Winkel and his wife, who were deeply shaken by the event, moved from security reasons.
Winkel, a well -known figure in the Belgian cryptal space, operates educational platforms including Crypto Académia and Crypto Sun. It also operates the YouTube channel with nearly 40,000 subscribers, where it previously offered demonstrations of wallet, market comment and competition.
After the attack, Winkel returned from public appearances. In January Post to xHe wrote, “I consider myself a defender of freedom, but now I realize that security must become an absolute priority for me and for the people around me.”
He undertook to return to crypto education, but with a different approach that avoids personal exposure and high -risk demonstrations. “No other competitions or demonstrations of wallets,” he said, promising to focus on market analysis and user protection.
Winkel reappeared on YouTube at the end of June and released his first video from the incident. This time the video was only a narration of voice narrative, no presence on the camera.
While the convicts are proceeding in this case, the authorities continue to find those that were assumed to have organized the conspiracy.
The Belgian police have confirmed that the investigation continues what they describe as an expanding network behind a number of targeted kidnapping in the European cryptological sector.
The case of a Belgian family is not an isolated incident. Worldwide, crypto investors with public profiles become the main goals in a disturbing trend of kidnapping with a high share.
Recent message He noted that the Australian crypto billionaire Tim Heath, last July, just escaped an attempt to kidnap in Estonia Tallinn. Heath, founder of Yolo Group, was attacked by two men acting like painters.
Australian crypto billionaire Tim Heath escaped a violent attempt to kidnapping in Estonia Tallinn by biting part of the attacker.#Crypto #Crimehttps://t.co/bc3xo2o4So
– Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) 3 July 2025
One of them, a former boxer from Azerbaijan, tried to suppress Heath’s shouts just to lose part of his finger when she hes in self -defense.
The court records revealed that the attackers watched Heath’s movements using GPS devices and planned to transfer it to a rented saunic house to force the crypto transfer.
France saw a similar tip. In June, The crypto influence tiktok was kidnapped and beaten In Essonne, after the attackers demanded a crypto of EUR 50,000. When his attackers found that his wallet was almost empty, they released him.
A few days later, another The man was held as a hostage in Paris While his kidnappers demanded his wallet and cash. His partner was forced to pass over 5,000 euros before he was released.
The 23-year-old man was kidnapped in Maisons-Alfort, Paris, and attackers demanded access to his wallet and cash.#Ledger #Parishttps://t.co/canxkpwx8n
– Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 20, 2025
Especially, according to In order to plant bitcoins, Jameson Lopp has so far appeared at least 32 “key attacks” in 2025, almost a third in France, which overcame previous years in extent and coordination.
Contribution Belgian prison Court Trio 12 years for kidnapping of the wife of the cryptoviště – He appeared for the first time Cryptonews.
