Wife of Sandbox co-founder Sebastien Borget targeted in kidnapping attempt at home in France: report

The wife of Sebastien Borget, co-founder and chief operating officer of The Sandbox, a blockchain-based virtual world built on Ethereum, was reportedly targeted in a kidnapping attempt at the couple's home in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne, France, this week.

Two suspects have been arrested, but four others remain at large, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.

The report said a single individual arrived at the property disguised as a deliveryman, wearing a branded vest and carrying a cardboard box. When Borget's wife opened the gate, five hooded accomplices rushed into the courtyard, dragged her by force, and attempted to push her into a vehicle, JDD reported.

Neighbors, ed by the victim's cries, intervened and forced the group to scatter.

Four suspects reportedly escaped in the vehicle. Two others fled on foot, hid nearby, and then summoned a ride-hail car. That second vehicle was intercepted shortly after by officers from the Meaux Anti-Crime Brigade, according to the report.

The two arrested, identified as Mateo V., born in 2010, and Walid H., born in 2009, both residents of Pantin in Seine-Saint-Denis, were found carrying a fake handgun, zip-tie restraints, and balaclavas, JDD said. The central security directorate has taken charge of the investigation.

Crypto kidnappings

Initial investigative elements suggest the attempt was linked to cryptocurrencies, JDD wrote.

Borget, 40, is co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, a blockchain-based virtual world where users build and monetize gaming experiences using NFTs and the SAND token.

The incident sits within a documented surge in crypto-targeted violence in France.

According to the National Directorate of the Judicial Police, as cited by JDD, 41 kidnappings or attempted abductions linked to cryptocurrencies have been recorded in the country since January 1, 2026.

A total of 135 such incidents have been documented since 2023, making France the global epicenter of the phenomenon and accounting for nearly 80% of European cases.

The Block has tracked the pattern closely. In April 2026, masked intruders forced a French crypto-linked family to transfer roughly $820,000 in digital assets at gunpoint, and French authorities charged 88 people that same month in a sweeping probe into crypto kidnappings and home invasions.

Earlier attempts targeted a pregnant daughter of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat in broad daylight in Paris and the head of Binance France at his home.

During Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Minister Delegate Jean-Didier Berger announced preventive measures in response to the wave, including the launch of a dedicated prevention platform, according to JDD.