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Business & Economics

After a Violent Kidnapping, Crypto Elites Hire Bodyguards

Wired
Summary
Nutrition label

73% Informative

David Balland and his wife were forced at gunpoint into separate vehicles outside their home in Méreau , a commune in the opulent Loire Valley , France .

The kidnappers had targeted Balland , who cofounded cryptocurrency wallet company Ledger, with the goal of winning a ransom.

To protect themselves, wealthy crypto figures are turning to bodyguard services, which have experienced an influx of requests.

Few clients from the crypto sector require round-the-clock supervision, opting to use bodyguards predominantly when attending public events or travelling to locations abroad.

The practical reality of protecting a crypto executive differs from case to case, sources say.

The general idea is for a bodyguard never to be forced into action, but instead to head off potential threats long in advance.

VR Score

64

Informative language

57

Neutral language

48

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

60

Offensive language

possibly offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

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no affiliate links