Base Chain, Coinbase&#8217;s layer-2 blockchain network launched in 2023, is doing well. Its key metrics are jumping, and market share growth continues. Nansen data shows that Base has solidified its position as the biggest player in the layer-2 industry. Its…

Base Chain transactions surge as DEX volume nears $400b milestone

Crypto industry executives are beefing up personal security and demanding more 
bodyguard services in response to a recent string of kidnapping and ransom 
attempts worldwide &#8212; particularly in France &#8212; targeting investors and 
professionals in the sector.
According to a Bloomberg report, Infinite Risks International, a private 
security firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is seeing more inquiries into 
bodyguard services and more long-term clients signing up for a private 
security detail.
Additionally, French law enforcement officials recently announced enhanced 
security measures for crypto entrepreneurs and investors, following at least 
three separate kidnapping incidents so far in 2025.
The measures include security briefings and expedited access to police lines 
in the case of emergencies for the entrepreneurs and their families.
French law enforcement authorities also advised crypto investors not to 
advertise their wealth or wear crypto-branded clothing, lessening their 
chances of becoming targets. The disturbing string of incidents highlights the 
need for proactive safety measures and vigilance for crypto investors and 
industry professionals.
_**Related:**__**Violent crypto robberies on the rise: Six attacks that 
targeted investors**_
## Recent string of kidnappings and ransom attempts impacts France
David Balland, the co-founder of hardware wallet company Ledger, was kidnapped 
in January 2025 and held for ransom for several days before being rescued by 
French police.
In May 2024, the father of an unnamed crypto entrepreneur was freed from a 
ransom attempt after French law enforcement officials raided the location in a 
Paris suburb where the individual was being held hostage by organized 
criminals.
According to Le Parisien, the suspects severed one of the victim&#8217;s fingers &#8212; 
bearing a disturbing similarity to other crypto-related kidnapping cases in 
France where the victim was mutilated by the suspects.
_Masked assailants attempt to abduct the family of Pierre Noizat, co-founder 
of French crypto exchange Paymium. Source:__Le Figaro_
Shortly after, On May 13, the family of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and CEO 
of French crypto exchange Paymium, was targeted in an attempted kidnapping.
Several masked assailants physically assaulted the family on the street and 
attempted to force Noizat&#8217;s daughter and grandson into a van in broad 
daylight.
The daughter and another pedestrian managed to fight off the attackers and 
force them into retreat, preventing the family from being abducted.
The high visibility and brazenness of the crime sent shockwaves through the 
crypto world, leading French interior minister Bruno Retailleau to call for a 
meeting with industry executives to discuss the incidents and propose enhanced 
security measures for at-risk crypto professionals and high net worth 
investors.
_**Magazine:**__**Bitcoiner sex trap extortion? BTS firm &#8216;s blockchain 
disaster: Asia Express**_

Crypto execs beef up security following string of kidnappings: Report

Argentine President Javier Milei and his sister Karina failed to attend a 
scheduled session related to the LIBRA meme coin scandal.

Milei siblings ghost court in $4.5m LIBRA scam hearing

Bitcoin scaled an intraday peak of $105,680, climbing 2.5% versus the U.S. 
dollar, as traders reveled in its buoyant momentum. The digital asset now 
orbits near $105,385 per unit, weathering a modest 3.87% dip from its historic 
zenith of $109,356 achieved on Jan. 20, 2025. Current trading vigor reflects 
roughly $19 billion in BTC trade […]

Bitcoin’s Wild Ride: Bulls Charge Toward All-Time High as $27M in Bearish Bets Vanish

After a powerful rally earlier this month, Bitcoin’s price action has stalled 
just above $103,000 and has been caught in a tight consolidation range for 
over the past week. The daily chart shows consistent resistance just above 
$107,000, with the latest candles forming in a compressed horizontal band, 
indicating indecision and low momentum. Related Reading: ‘Judgment Day Is 
Coming’—XRP Set To Explode, Analyst Warns This price behavior could be seen as 
a pause before the next leg higher. However, it could also be a trap that 
could cause a reversal towards $98,000. Daily Close Above $107K A Clear 
Breakout Signal Bitcoin&#8217;s current consolidation around the $103,000 price 
level has dragged on for over a week, and an eventual breakout could happen 
into any direction. In a recent post on social media platform X, crypto 
analyst Ali Martinez noted the importance of a daily close above $107,000 for 
a bullish Bitcoin. His chart illustrates that price has approached this 
threshold multiple times since December 2024 but failed to sustain a close on 
the daily timeframe. This, in turn, has led to the formation of a horizontal 
barrier just beneath $108,000. Notably, even Bitcoin&#8217;s all-time high of 
$108,786 on January 20 failed to close above the $107,000 price level on that 
day. According to Martinez, a confirmed close above this level could open the 
door for further upside movement toward new all-time highs. However, until 
this threshold is decisively cleared, Martinez warns that traders should be 
cautious and avoid forcing positions. Image From X: @ali_charts Potential 
Bitcoin Trap Setup And Liquidity Sweep To $98K A separate technical breakdown 
by crypto analyst TehThomas, published on TradingView, presents a far more 
cautious outlook for Bitcoin. Similarly, the analyst noted that Bitcoin has 
spent more than eight days locked in a narrow range between roughly $100,000 
and $105,800. According to his liquidity-based framework, this range is likely 
being used as a trap to invite both long and short traders into premature 
breakout trades. His 4-hour candlestick timeframe chart shows a clear 
consolidation block, with price failing to escape either end, and liquidity 
pooling above $105,800 as well as under $100,000. TehThomas believes the equal 
highs near $105,800 are acting as bait for breakout longs. He expects Bitcoin 
to briefly sweep these highs, only to cause a fast and decisive move downwards 
into the lower demand zone between $98,000 and $97,500. This zone, marked as a 
large unmitigated fair value gap and golden pocket level on his chart, is 
where he expects the price to react next, once the liquidity on both sides is 
taken. Image From TradingView: TehThomas However, this short setup towards 
$98,000 would be invalidated if the Bitcoin price manages to hold above 
$105,800 and shows a continued strong volume and follow-through. Related 
Reading: Trump Token Mania: Over 6,000% Pump Or Classic Solana Trap? At the 
time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $103,914, down by 0.06% in the past 24 
hours. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin Must Close Above $107,000 To Confirm Breakout Or Risk Dropping To $98K

The Shiba Inu price rally has stalled as trading volume, futures open 
interest, and its burn rate continue to decline. Shiba Inu (SHIB), the second- 
biggest meme coin in crypto, has dropped to $0.000015, down from this week’s 
high of $0.00001750. …