France has recorded 77 crypto kidnappings, extortions, and related attempts since the start of January, Interior Minister Laurent Marie Joseph Nuñez-Belda confirmed this week. The figures represent a sharp escalation in violent crimes targeting digital asset holders, placing a fresh spotlight on the physical security risks inherent in the sector.
Laurent Nuñez announced the data while unveiling a more ambitious national security plan designed to curb the rise of “wrench attacks.”
Intelligence and industry partnerships form strategy core
The minister addressed members of the Association pour le Développement des Actifs Numériques (ADAN) to outline the government’s response to these evolving threats. As many investors move their holdings into cold storage, bitcoin exchange supply maintains multi-year lows, which often makes physical access to private keys a primary target for criminals.
This strategy shifts the focus from digital hacking to direct physical coercion against individuals and their families.
Minister Laurent Nuñez described the new security framework as a three-pillar initiative aimed at dismantling the criminal networks behind these assaults. The first pillar prioritizes the strengthening of intelligence sharing, a move the minister called fundamental and extremely effective. Authorities aim to gather more information on criminal teams, particularly since the individuals ordering these attacks are sometimes based outside of French borders.
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The second pillar involves a deeper partnership with the Association pour le Développement des Actifs Numériques (ADAN). This collaboration includes the creation of a network of experts to bring together industry players and relevant state agencies.
By bridging the gap between the private sector and law enforcement, the government hopes to identify suspicious activity more rapidly. It also ensures that state agencies have access to the technical expertise required to track assets across various blockchains.
The third pillar focuses on strengthening operational coordination between different government departments to neutralize offenders. This effort extends to international cooperation, as French officials seek to deepen ties with foreign states where perpetrators may be hiding. This coordinated approach aims to ensure that criminals cannot use international borders to evade prosecution after committing violent thefts on French soil.
Violent home invasions target high-profile crypto executives
The urgency of the new security measures follows several high-profile incidents that occurred throughout the first half of 2026. In February, intruders targeted the home of the chief executive of Binance France in a violent home invasion attempt.
Although the executive wasn’t at the residence during the attack, the intruders managed to flee the scene with two mobile phones. The failure of the invasion highlight’s the persistence of criminal groups tracking high-profile industry figures.
Other attacks during the spring proved more costly for victims and involved significant trauma. In March, individuals posing as fake police officers targeted a couple and successfully robbed them of 900,000 euros in Bitcoin (BTC). The use of authority as a tool for extortion demonstrates the increasing sophistication of the tactics used by these gangs.
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This psychological manipulation often bypasses traditional security mindsets that victims might apply to standard street crimes.
In April, two men extorted 700,000 euros from a family of five in a targeted home invasion. These incidents have contributed to a growing sense of unease within the French digital asset community.
While macro warning signs emerge in the broader financial markets, the localized threat of physical violence has become a more immediate concern for many retail and institutional investors. The physical proximity of the victim allows attackers to bypass multi-factor authentication through direct threats.
Escalating violence marks shift from cybercrime to coercion
Officials noted that the frequency of these attacks had reached alarming levels earlier this year. In April, data indicated that France was suffering from at least one crypto-related kidnapping or home invasion every two to three days. This pace has made France a global center for violent crypto-related crime, according to interior ministry reports.
The transition from remote phishing schemes to “home jacking” reflects the high success rate criminals find in physical coercion.
The trend of physical violence isn’t entirely new, but its intensity has worsened since 2025. In January of last year, kidnappers seized Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner. That incident served as a wake-up call for the industry, proving that even those at the forefront of security hardware could be vulnerable to physical assault.
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The recent surge to 77 cases shows that the threat has spread beyond industry leaders to include a wider range of asset holders.
The government’s plan arrives as the industry matures and demand for new digital assets continues to grow. For example, the ApeMars presale gains momentum as investors look for new opportunities, but increased visibility can also bring unwanted attention. Minister Laurent Nuñez has signaled that the state will treat these cases as high-priority violent felonies.
The success of the three-pillar plan will likely determine whether France can remain a safe hub for the digital economy.
Operational coordination aims to neutralize international syndicates
By deepening cooperation with foreign states, the French government intends to strike at the heart of organized crime syndicates. Minister Laurent Nuñez emphasized that tracking the financial trail is only one part of the solution. The state must also dismantle the physical infrastructure and communication channels used by these groups.
Improving the coordination between local police and specialized digital crime units is a primary goal of the third pillar.
The creation of an expert network with the Association pour le Développement des Actifs Numériques (ADAN) will play a crucial role in this coordination. These experts will provide real-time data to help law enforcement identify wallet addresses associated with known extortionists.
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This technical partnership allows for faster freezing of stolen assets on major exchanges, potentially reducing the incentive for criminals to carry out these attacks. If the stolen funds can’t be laundered or spent, the physical risk to the perpetrator becomes much harder to justify.
Looking forward, the French government plans to monitor the impact of these 77 cases to refine future law enforcement tactics. The integration of specialized units within the national police may become necessary if the violence continues at its current rate. Authorities are also encouraging digital asset holders to practice better operational security.
This includes maintaining discretion regarding their holdings on social media and using advanced security features like multi-signature wallets that require geographic separation to authorize transfers.