France has recorded at least 41 crypto-related kidnappings since the start of 2026, according to figures confirmed by the Interior Ministry. The attacks, which include home invasions and abductions, occur at an average rate of one every 2.5 days, ourcryptotalk.com reports.
Data breaches at the crypto tax platform Waltio and insider leaks from a detained French tax official have enabled criminal networks to identify and target specific cryptocurrency holders. The surge marks a sharp escalation from 2025, when France reported approximately 30 such cases.
Criminals use leaked personal data, social media profiles, and public appearances at industry events to track victims. Once a target is located, attackers use surveillance or physical violence to force cryptocurrency transfers. Attackers typically demand ransoms in crypto, then convert the funds to stablecoins and move them across different blockchains to launder the proceeds.
Targeted attacks and government response
Recent incidents highlight the extreme violence used in these 'wrench attacks.' In April 2026, four attackers stormed a crypto entrepreneur’s home in Burgundy, demanding 400,000 euros. When they discovered the funds were in a time-locked wallet, the group kidnapped the man’s wife and 11-year-old son.
Counter-terrorism officers from the GIGN tracked the hostages to a hotel room in Val-de-Marne. The officers freed both hostages unharmed and arrested at least four suspects, according to reports cited by ourcryptotalk.com.
In another April incident, five suspects in Anglet targeted the wrong individual while hunting for a specific investor. A separate case in February involved the 30-hour kidnapping of a magistrate and her mother, linked to the crypto investments of the magistrate’s partner.
French officials state that many of the criminal masterminds operate from abroad. Local accomplices, which sometimes include teenagers recruited via social media, often receive target information at the last minute. This decentralized structure makes these networks difficult for authorities to dismantle.
In response to the rising threat, the French government announced new protective measures during Paris Blockchain Week. These measures include police escorts for high-profile attendees and a new prevention platform that has already seen thousands of sign-ups from crypto holders looking to assess personal risk.
