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Kidnapped, sequestered, then released, this Wednesday January 22, who is David Balland, kidnapped the day before against a ransom demand of several million euros?
A meteoric rise which aroused desire. Cryptocurrency genius, David Balland was kidnapped this Tuesday, January 21 in the morning, from his home in Méreau (Cher), along with his partner. The man, whose finger was severed, and the woman were kidnapped and then found by the police in two different places – near Châteauroux and in the Paris region – the next day despite a ransom demand of several million euros. , in cryptocurrencies, had been requested by the kidnappers. This Thursday evening, 10 people were arrested.
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Mutilated hand, ransom… what we know about the kidnapping and release of the co-founder of a cryptocurrency startup and his partner
Aged 36, David Balland is no stranger to the world of tech. He is one of the co-founders of Ledger, a start-up whose valuation has exceeded a billion dollars, a unicorn, specializing in ultra-secure cryptocurrency wallets. A company founded in 2014 with Eric Larchevêque, famous entrepreneur known for being a member of the jury of the M6 show “Who wants to be my partner”, and ranked at 391e place in the ranking of the 500 greatest French fortunes according to Challenges.
An extraordinary journey
Originally from Corrèze, David Balland obtained a BTS in management IT in 2008, at the Marguerite Bahuet high school in Brive. Before continuing his studies at Supinfo Orléans, from which he graduated in 2011 with a master's degree in information science.
A brilliant geek, he launched into entrepreneurship in 2011. He then co-founded the high definition music streaming platform RadioceRos with two discreet partners, Joël Pobeda and Vanessa Rabesandratana. Then the trio subsequently switches to another business. “We put away our record bins,” relates David Balland to the Berry Republican in 2021. We said to ourselves that if there was something to do in cryptocurrency, it was now.”
-The trio then launched Chronocoin.fr, an online platform allowing the purchase of bitcoins with a credit card and with portfolio management. The Ledger adventure began in 2014 with the merger made with Eric Larchevêque, who had just founded La maison du bitcoin. The headquarters is established at the Sologne technology park, in Vierzon (Cher), the family cradle of the Larchevêques.
This is the start of a success story, with the company becoming the world leader in the design of physical cryptocurrency wallets. Nearly 7 million devices have been sold worldwide, recalls Le FigaroLedger thus securing around 20% of the world's digital assets.
“Not interested in money”
Having made his fortune, David Balland is not a “golden boy” bling-bling. “When he comes to do his shopping in the town, he always has his backpack and his student look,” relates to the Parisian the mayor of Méreau Alain Mornay. “He is someone who is discreet, kind, curious and not interested in money,” also explains a former Ledger executive.
It is also near the company's headquarters that the thirty-year-old had chosen to take up residence. A residence without apparent luxury, with swimming pool, located in the middle of a 3000 m² property.
