Crypto Influencer Kidnapped in Montreal - Trial Recaps Events from 2021

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6 Oct 2026Hugh Bernard

A Crypto Influencer Victim of Targeted Kidnapping

While the events date back to December 2021, the trial of the alleged organizer of a kidnapping targeting French crypto influencer Michaël Monteverde has just opened in the city of Montreal. This is an opportunity for the victim, better known by the pseudonym << Mickalamasse >>, to recount the events of that horrific evening.

As part of his activity on social media, this dubious crypto trading promoter regularly published photos - sometimes more than a hundred a day - aimed at showcasing his luxurious lifestyle and the supposed results of his trading activities.

👉 List of kidnappings and assaults related to cryptocurrencies in France

A very bad idea, as law enforcement reminded in a publication last February that attempted to respond to the unprecedented increase in crypto-related assaults in France since the beginning of the year, notably reminding that << discretion is a protection >>.

In any case, Michaël Monteverde would quickly come into contact with a Canadian found in the comments of his posts. A certain Michael-Eli Moussalem, now at the center of this trial - despite his flight to the United States to escape - organized at the courthouse in Saint-Jérôme.

The Attackers Leave with $25,000 in Crypto and a Luxury Watch

Following their initial contact, the two men who << were making a lot of money in crypto >> would meet for the first time in Morocco, then in Mexico where the victim claims to have spent << the best vacation of his life >>. This motivated the influencer to meet his new friend in Montreal in 2021.

After meeting some of his followers in a luxury hotel downtown, Michaël Monteverde decided to rent a luxury chalet in the Laurentians. His accomplice, who was initially supposed to come with him, would then advise him not to disclose his location, before ultimately returning to Montreal at the last minute.

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A few hours later, two armed and masked men (who were never identified) would burst into Michaël Monteverde's chalet. Quickly, tensions would rise due to the influencer's refusal to cooperate, and one of the attackers would ultimately shoot him.

He would then wake up, << tied up like a pig >> to undergo several drowning attempts and explicit threats with a gun, before finally giving the password to his phone. But as a significant portion of his cryptocurrencies was apparently << secured >>, the criminals would only obtain the equivalent of $25,000 in total and a Rolex watch of equivalent value.

Once his attackers had left, the victim would eventually manage to free himself and make his way to the nearest police station. Despite this extremely violent kidnapping, Michaël Monteverde still claims today in court to be << the saddest person in the world >> about how events turned out.

Source: Journal de Montréal

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