France's national anti-organized crime prosecutor said crypto-related kidnapping cases are rising rapidly, with 88 individuals now charged across 12 cases and 75 held in pretrial detention, Le Monde reported. More than 10 of the charged are minors.
Why it matters
The figures from the prosecutor's office underscore how physical violence has become a routine enforcement layer in crypto's European footprint. Victims are typically abducted or unlawfully detained and forced to transfer crypto assets as ransom — a model that exploits the irreversibility of on-chain transfers and the difficulty of tracing coerced wallet activity.
Market impact
France has logged 135 such incidents since 2023: 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 already in 2026, putting this year on pace to surpass 2025. The acceleration is reshaping security expectations for high-net-worth crypto holders and exchange operators across the EU, and it adds pressure on French authorities to extend physical-protection protocols beyond what most jurisdictions currently offer.
Frequently asked questions
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How many crypto-related kidnappings has France recorded since 2023?
France's national anti-organized crime prosecutor said 135 such incidents have been recorded since 2023, per Le Monde. The breakdown was 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026.
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How many people have been charged in France's crypto kidnapping cases?
According to Le Monde, 88 individuals have been charged across 12 cases, with 75 held in pretrial detention. More than 10 of the charged are minors.
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Why are crypto holders being targeted for kidnapping?
Victims are typically abducted or unlawfully detained and forced to transfer crypto assets as ransom, exploiting the irreversibility of on-chain transfers and the difficulty of tracing coerced wallet activity.
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Are crypto kidnappings increasing in 2026?
Yes — 47 cases have been logged so far in 2026, putting the year on pace to surpass 2025's full-year count of 67, according to the French prosecutor's office.
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Who is investigating these cases in France?
France's national anti-organized crime prosecutor (the parquet national antistupéfiants-adjacent organised crime unit) is leading the investigation, with the cases being charged across 12 separate dockets.
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