Belgian Court Sentences Three Kidnappers Involved in Encryption Ransom Case to 12 Years in Prison

By: theblockbeats.news|2025/07/04 10:26:45

BlockBeats News, July 4th, According to Cointelegraph's report, the Brussels Criminal Court in Belgium has ruled on a cryptocurrency-related kidnapping case. Three kidnappers were sentenced to 12 years each for kidnapping the wife of local cryptocurrency entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel in December 2024 and demanding a cryptocurrency ransom. They are also required to pay at least 1 million euros in civil compensation to the victim.

The mastermind of the case is still at large. Although the victim was promptly rescued by the police, she suffered severe physical and psychological trauma, leading to the Winkel couple being forced to move. Winkel is the founder of the crypto education platform Crypto Académie, and his YouTube channel has 40,000 subscribers. He stated after the incident that he would adjust his content strategy to focus on security education rather than wallet operational demonstrations.

WEEX Labs, the innovation arm of the global crypto exchange WEEX, launched the preliminary round of its flagship AI trading hackathon, AI Wars: WEEX Alpha Awakens, on January 12, 2026. Backed by world-class sponsors including AWS, the prize pool has reached $1.88 million, with a Bentley Bentayga S awaiting the champion in Dubai. Already, 788 elite teams worldwide are battling for a spot in the finals. This is more than a hackathon — it is a real-market stress test for AI trading. Registration remains open until January 18. If you want your AI to face real volatility, this is your moment.

AI Wars: WEEX Alpha Awakens – Insights, Top Strategies, and Real-Market Execution Takeaways

WEEX Labs has officially launched the preliminary round of its global AI trading hackathon, AI Wars: WEEX Alpha Awakens, bringing together hundreds of elite teams to compete in real-market conditions. With a record-breaking $1.88 million prize pool and backing from top-tier sponsors like AWS, the event has quickly become a global proving ground for AI-powered trading strategies. As competition intensifies and standout teams emerge on the leaderboard, the hackathon not only showcases cutting-edge AI execution and risk management, but also offers valuable insights and inspiration for traders looking to build or refine their own AI-driven systems.

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