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

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.