France Battles a Wave of Kidnappings
Crypto-related kidnappings are rising in France, prompting urgent government action.
France is seeing a growing number of kidnappings linked to cryptocurrency, pushing authorities to prepare new protective measures. In 2026 alone, 41 such cases have already been recorded—an average of one kidnapping roughly every two and a half days.
The Ministry of the Interior has announced that stricter security measures will be introduced in the coming weeks. As Jean-Didier Berger emphasized during Paris Blockchain Week, the issue is no longer marginal and requires better coordination between services. A preventive platform for cryptocurrency holders has already been launched, with thousands of users taking advantage of it.
France has become Europe’s main target for so-called ransom-driven attacks, accounting for around 40% of such incidents on the continent. Globally, the number of these crimes rose by 75% in 2025.
The nature of the threat has clearly evolved. In the past, such incidents were mostly tied to internal disputes, but today criminals increasingly target wealthy individuals and their families. Data from the French agency SIRASCO shows that between mid-2023 and the end of 2025, around 40 crypto-related kidnappings occurred, mainly in the Paris region.
Recent events highlight the scale of the problem. In April, the elite GIGN unit rescued a woman and her 10-year-old son after about 20 hours in captivity. The kidnappers had demanded several hundred thousand euros from the father, a crypto entrepreneur. In another case near Lyon, victims were held for 30 hours, and police arrested six suspects.
Experts note that self-custody of cryptocurrencies may increase the risk of physical attacks. As a result, more people in the industry are investing in personal security and home protection systems.
The situation puts France in a difficult position. The country aims to be a hub for financial innovation, but the rising number of kidnappings could deter investors. Authorities are therefore planning measures to improve security and rebuild trust.
One factor that has further heightened investor concerns is reports of a data leak within the tax administration. Investigators found that an employee of the French tax office allegedly passed confidential information about cryptocurrency holders—including their addresses and financial details—to criminals. In some cases, this data may have been used to plan attacks and extortion. This has fueled distrust in the asset reporting system and made some investors wary of disclosing information about their holdings.
