Attempted Kidnapping of The Sandbox Co-Founder's Wife in France Highlights Risks to Crypto Holders

The Sandbox is an Ethereum-based metaverse platform. Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Sébastien Borget's public profile in the crypto industry may also make his family a target for a “wrench attack.” In April this year, an armed assault forced a French crypto family to transfer about $820,000, underscoring how exposure of on-chain wealth and home addresses can translate into physical danger.

On the evening of May 20, 2026, six assailants entered a home in Villenoy, France. One posed as a delivery worker to persuade Borget's wife to open the door, while five accomplices tried to force her into a vehicle. A neighbor intervened, and she was not injured. Two suspects were arrested while attempting to flee in an Uber, while four remained at large. Police seized replica firearms, zip ties and balaclavas. No ransom amount was disclosed. France's National Directorate of Judicial Police has recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings or attempted kidnappings since January 1, 2026.