A crypto trader at the centre of a 50,000 euro blackmail plot was released by his kidnappers after they realised he was actually flat broke.

The 26-year-old crypto TikToker was reportedly kidnapped by four men in Juvisy-sur-Orge, France last Friday and then released a day later when the men discovered he didn’t have enough funds to cover their extortion demands.

The kidnappers had demanded 50,000 euros ($57,000) in crypto, which is a drop in the ocean for any ‘crypto bro’ worth their salt, but apparently this lad was just faking at being a crypto baron, and doing a pretty good job of it on TikTok.

The TikToker, who has 40,000 followers on the platform, was bundled into a stolen vehicle on his way home and beaten, but was ultimately allowed to go free after showing the kidnappers the low balance in his crypto account.

France’s Organised and Specialised Crime Division is now investigating the incident and the trader has been given six days of work incapacity benefits, according to Europe 1.

It’s looking like a dangerous time to be a crypto owner in France in particular. Earlier this year, a crypto entrepreneur’s father had his finger chopped off during a 48-hour ordeal in a building in Paris after being bundled into a delivery van.

Footage of the amputation was sent to his son along with a demand for £4-£6 million. He was rescued by police before five people were arrested.

Back in January, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped from their home in the Cher region, around 150 miles south of Paris. One of his fingers was chopped off by his kidnappers who wanted an £8.4 million ransom.

There was also this footage of a crypto company executive and her 2-year-old child narrowly escaping a kidnapping attempt in Paris last month.

So basically, if you’ve got a f*ck ton of crypto, it’s probably best to keep quiet about it, especially in Paris. And if you haven’t got a lot of crypto, it’s best to not pretend like you do, lest you end up like our TikToker friend here.