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Crypto Investor’s Wife Kidnapped for Ransom: Court Hands Down 12-Year Sentences

2025-07-05 08:37:17

Crypto Investor’s Wife Kidnapped for Ransom: Court Hands Down 12-Year Sentences

Main Idea

A court in Belgium sentenced three individuals to 12 years for kidnapping the wife of a local cryptocurrency investor, highlighting risks in the crypto community.

Key Points

1. The Brussels Criminal Court found the trio guilty of hostage-taking after the kidnapping of the wife of Stéphane Winkel, a known figure in the local crypto education scene.

2. The victim's husband, Stéphane Winkel, runs platforms like Crypto Académie and Crypto Sun, aimed at making digital asset investing more accessible.

3. The court dismissed the defendants' claims that they were acting under duress, and the case involves a minor whose role is being addressed separately.

4. Winkel returned to YouTube in June 2025 after a period of silence, emphasizing privacy and security following the traumatic incident.

5. The incident underscores the risks faced by prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space and their families.

Description

A court in Belgium has issued 12-year prison sentences to three individuals involved in the December 2024 kidnapping of the wife of a local cryptocurrency entrepreneur. The case, which has drawn attention within both legal and crypto communities, centers on a ransom demand made in digital assets, highlighting the growing concerns about the i ntersection of financial technology and physical security. Court Ruling and Ongoing Investigations The Brussels Criminal Court found the trio guilty of host...

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