Key Highlights
- France recorded 77 crypto-linked kidnapping and extortion cases in the first half of 2026, up from 45 in 2025.
- The government unveiled a broader security strategy to combat violence targeting cryptocurrency holders.
- The plan expands intelligence-sharing and coordination between French and international law enforcement agencies.
France has geared up to strengthen security for cryptocurrency investors and industry professionals after a sharp rise in crypto-linked kidnappings and extortion attempts.
Speaking at a summit hosted by the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (ADAN), Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said authorities have recorded 77 verified cases of kidnapping, abduction, extortion, or attempted extortion linked to the crypto sector since the beginning of 2026.
The metric represents an alarming escalation from the 45 cases recorded during all of 2025, positioning physical safety as a primary issue for the European digital asset market.
Dismantling the epicenter of wrench attacks
France has become one of the world’s leading hotspots for crypto-related “wrench attacks.” According to metrics from blockchain security firm CertiK, global physical assaults aimed at extracting digital assets rose 41% in early 2026—and France sits at the absolute center of this crisis. The country currently accounts for an estimated 70% of all documented “wrench attacks” worldwide, a term used when criminals employ physical torture or abduction to force victims to hand over hardware wallets or private keys.
According to ADAN, around 11% of France’s population, roughly 7.3 million people, owns cryptocurrency, making the country an increasingly attractive target for organized criminal groups.
Nuñez said the wave of attacks eased after Moroccan authorities arrested a Franco-Moroccan suspect in June 2025 who is believed to have organized several crypto-related kidnappings, including the abduction of David Balland.
The three pillars of the updated security plan
“These are serious matters, and your concern is legitimate,” Nuñez said, adding that emergency measures introduced last year had already improved law enforcement’s response. He announced a new security strategy that he described as “more ambitious” than the measures rolled out in 2025.
The plan focuses on three key areas:
- Expanding intelligence-sharing on criminal networks.
- Strengthening cooperation between ADAN and French authorities through a dedicated network of experts.
- Improving coordination between French and international law enforcement agencies to target organizers operating abroad.
Nuñez said intelligence-sharing is especially important because those directing many of the attacks are believed to be based outside France.
Early security measures and regulatory backdrop
France first introduced a rapid-alert and protection system for cryptocurrency users and industry professionals in April 2026, after a series of violent crypto-related kidnappings.
According to Nuñez, the emergency measures have already resulted in 200 arrests, either after attacks or through preventive operations. In one recent case in the Somme region, police arrested suspects within eight hours after a victim activated the emergency hotline.
He added that 724 people have signed up for the protection system so far, an 11% increase, as the government expands its efforts to protect crypto holders.
The latest security push also comes as France also tightens oversight of the crypto industry. Ahead of the June 30, 2026, deadline under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation, French regulators warned that firms operating without a licence could face legal action, be blacklisted, and be required to wind down their operations across the European Union.
French authorities are expected to continue expanding coordination with international partners as they pursue organizers operating across borders and implement the new security measures announced by the Interior Ministry.
Also Read: MiCA Takes Effect: Binance Locked Out of EU but Reassures Users
