French authorities are stepping up efforts to fight the rise in crypto-related kidnappings and extortion after Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 77 incidents were recorded during the first half of 2026.
Speaking to the Association for the Development of Digital Assets on Tuesday, Nuñez said the number of crypto-linked kidnappings, extortion cases and attempted attacks has already exceeded the 45 incidents reported throughout all of 2025.
He acknowledged growing concerns within France’s digital asset sector and pledged stronger government support through a broader security strategy aimed at protecting crypto investors, entrepreneurs and businesses.
Why is France seeing more crypto kidnapping attacks?
France has become one of the world’s main targets for so-called crypto “wrench attacks,” where criminals use threats or physical violence to force victims to hand over digital assets.
According to ADAN, around 11% of the French population, about 7.3 million people owns cryptocurrency, making the country one of Europe’s largest crypto markets.
Security researchers have also pointed to the country’s concentration of major crypto companies and executives, along with repeated data leaks that have exposed personal information belonging to thousands of crypto users.
France expands emergency protection for crypto holders
Earlier this year, French authorities introduced a dedicated prevention platform alongside a rapid-alert and protection system designed specifically for crypto holders and industry professionals.
Nuñez said the program has attracted 724 registrations so far. Authorities have also made around 200 arrests tied to crypto-related crimes this year.
He highlighted a recent case in which police arrested a suspected attacker within eight hours after a victim used the emergency identification hotline.
The interior minister said the government will now introduce a more ambitious strategy built around stronger intelligence sharing with international partners, closer cooperation with ADAN, and improved coordination between law enforcement agencies handling crypto-related crimes.
Data breaches continue to increase risks
Blockchain security firm CertiK reported in May that crypto wrench attacks worldwide rose 41% during the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, with Europe recording the highest number of incidents.
The firm described France as the center of many of these attacks, citing the presence of leading crypto firms, public exposure of industry figures and the lasting impact of major data breaches.
One of the most notable cases involved David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, who was kidnapped along with his partner in January 2025 before being rescued by police.
Ledger’s 2020 customer database breach exposed the personal information of more than 270,000 users, and security experts say the leaked data has continued to fuel phishing attempts and physical attacks targeting crypto holders.
Certik also reported that crypto exchanges and executives are increasing spending on personal protection as physical attacks targeting digital asset holders move beyond online threats and into the real world.
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