Sandbox COO’s Wife Targeted in Crypto Kidnapping Attempt

Six attackers targeted the residence in Seine-et-Marne on the evening of May 20, 2026, according to an exclusive report by Journal du Dimanche. One man disguised himself as a delivery worker and tricked the victim into opening the gate. Five hooded accomplices then rushed into the courtyard and dragged her by force.

The attempt failed. The victim was not injured. Police arrested two teenage suspects the same evening after intercepting their Uber getaway vehicle.

How the Sandbox COO Kidnapping Attempt Unfolded

The operation relied on a simple social engineering tactic. A man posing as a delivery worker approached the property and convinced Borget’s wife to open the front gate. Once she did, five masked accomplices stormed the courtyard.

According to JDD, the group attempted to drag her away by force. The attackers then fled the scene after the attempt collapsed. Some escaped in a vehicle, while others left on foot before calling a rideshare.

French police intercepted two suspects shortly afterward inside an Uber. Officers found a fake handgun, zip ties, and balaclavas in their possession. Both suspects are minors from Pantin in Seine-Saint-Denis. Four accomplices remain at large.

Teenage Suspects Placed in Custody

JDD identifies the two suspects as Mateo V., born in 2010, and Walid H., born in 2009. That makes them 15 and 16 years old at the time of the incident.

Their age raises questions about the networks behind these attacks. Criminal organizations in France have reportedly recruited minors for high-risk operations tied to crypto wealth. As a result, the use of teenagers as operatives suggests a broader organized effort rather than an isolated act.

French investigators placed both suspects in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors have not announced formal charges. Authorities believe cryptocurrency holdings motivated the Sandbox COO kidnapping attempt.

Borget Confirms Family Is Safe

Sebastien Borget posted a personal update on X after the incident. “Thank you, we’re all safe for now, but the threat remains high and real unfortunately,” he wrote.

The Sandbox has not issued an official corporate statement. No on-chain wallet activity or SAND token movements connect to the event. Similarly, the SAND token showed no unusual price volatility following the news.

France’s Escalating Crypto Crime Wave

This is not an isolated event. France has recorded between 36 and 41 crypto-linked physical attacks in 2026 alone, according to reports tracked across French media.

In January 2025, attackers kidnapped David Balland, co-founder of hardware wallet maker Ledger, for ransom. His captors severed one of his fingers during the ordeal. He was later rescued after his wife paid the ransom.

On May 13, 2025, assailants targeted the daughter of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat in a daylight kidnapping attempt on a Paris street. She managed to escape. That incident occurred just one week before the Sandbox COO kidnapping attempt in Villenoy.

The pattern is clear. Crypto executives and their families in France face an escalating threat. Attackers use social engineering, physical force, and increasingly target family members rather than the executives themselves.

Why Crypto Founders Are Targeted

Crypto executives are uniquely vulnerable to physical attacks. Their wealth is often publicly visible through on-chain holdings, social media profiles, and project affiliations. At the same time, cryptocurrency can be transferred quickly and with limited traceability compared to traditional bank transfers.

Physical attacks bypass digital security measures like two-factor authentication and cold wallets. Instead, attackers exploit real-world vulnerabilities, including doxxed home addresses and predictable routines.

The Sandbox COO kidnapping attempt fits this pattern precisely. Borget is a high-profile figure in Web3 gaming. He co-founded The Sandbox in 2012, and the platform pivoted to blockchain between 2018 and 2020. His public profile makes him and his family identifiable targets as a result.

Community Reacts With Alarm

On X, the story trended rapidly with thousands of views on key posts. The dominant sentiment combined alarm and frustration. Multiple users called for crypto founders to leave France entirely.

“France is not safe” became a recurring theme in the replies. Others stressed the need for better operational security among high-profile crypto figures. Some pointed out that the fake delivery tactic could target anyone with a publicly known address.

The Block reporter @JeSuisNaga shared a detailed recap that included Borget’s quote. The post received over 2,100 views. No major Reddit threads or Discord discussions have surfaced yet because of how recently the story broke.

What Remains Unknown

Several questions remain unanswered. Investigators have not revealed whether the attackers made a specific ransom demand. In addition, the identities and motives of the four fugitives are still unknown.

No connection to organized crime networks has been publicly established. French prosecutors from the parquet de Meaux handle the case, but they have not released a formal statement.

Neither Borget nor The Sandbox have disclosed the family’s private security arrangements. With Bitcoin trading near $78,000 and crypto wealth under increasing scrutiny, the threat to prominent figures in the industry shows no signs of slowing down.