Why Is France Escalating Its Response To Crypto Ransom Attacks?
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has promised a more ambitious response to crypto-linked ransom attacks after confirming that authorities recorded 77 kidnapping, extortion, or attempted extortion incidents tied to crypto in the first half of 2026.
The figure marks a sharp increase from the 45 incidents recorded across all of 2025. The rise has pushed physical security into the center of France’s digital asset policy debate, alongside regulation, custody, fraud prevention, and market supervision.
“These are serious matters, and your concern is legitimate,” Nuñez told the Association for the Development of Digital Assets, known as ADAN, as he pledged stronger government support for the sector.
The cases reflect the growing threat of so-called wrench attacks, where criminals use physical violence, threats, kidnapping, or coercion to force victims to surrender crypto assets. Unlike cyberattacks, these incidents target individuals directly, including founders, employees, investors, and users believed to hold large digital asset balances.
France has become one of the most exposed markets for this type of crime. About 11% of French people own cryptocurrencies, according to ADAN, equivalent to roughly 7.3 million people. That creates a wide target base for criminal groups, especially when personal information, wallet ownership, or professional links to crypto firms become publicly visible.
What Has France Already Done?
French authorities launched a dedicated prevention platform earlier this year, along with a rapid-alert and protection system for crypto holders and professionals. Nuñez said the system has attracted 724 sign-ups so far.
The government has also created emergency response channels designed to help victims quickly identify themselves and trigger law enforcement action. Nuñez said emergency measures have already contributed to 200 arrests. In one recent case, an attacker was arrested within 8 hours on Friday, helped in part by the victim’s use of an emergency identification hotline.
The measures show that France is treating crypto-linked extortion as an operational policing problem, not only a financial crime issue. That distinction matters. A stolen private key, leaked customer list, or public association with crypto wealth can turn into a physical threat long before funds move onchain.
For the crypto industry, the response also points to a more formal relationship with law enforcement. Exchanges, wallet providers, founders, and high-profile investors may face growing pressure to improve security practices, reduce public exposure, and participate in alert systems that help police respond faster when threats appear.
Investor Takeaway
France’s crypto security challenge is no longer limited to cyber risk. Physical coercion, data exposure, and personal targeting are becoming part of the operating risk for crypto firms, executives, and high-value users.
What Will The New Security Plan Focus On?
Nuñez said the government is preparing a more ambitious three-part plan to reinforce security around the crypto sector. The plan will focus on stronger intelligence-sharing, a deeper partnership with ADAN, and better operational coordination between security services.
The intelligence-sharing element is central because many criminal networks targeting crypto holders operate across borders. That makes domestic police action harder when attackers, planners, data brokers, and money-laundering channels are spread across different jurisdictions.
A closer partnership with ADAN could also give authorities a faster way to understand emerging threats inside the digital asset market. Industry groups can help identify patterns, warn members, and support prevention campaigns, particularly for executives and professionals who may be more exposed because of their public roles.
Better coordination between security services is aimed at reducing the response gap between threat detection and police action. In wrench attacks, speed matters. Victims may be physically restrained, transported, or threatened before authorities can connect the case to crypto assets. Rapid escalation channels can reduce that window.
The policy shift may also affect how crypto companies manage internal and customer data. Firms operating in France are likely to face stronger expectations around data protection, executive security, employee training, and incident reporting. The risk is not only that attackers steal funds online, but that leaked information helps criminals identify who to target offline.
Why Has France Become A Hot Spot?
Blockchain security firm CertiK reported in May that wrench attacks globally rose 41% in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, with most attacks taking place in Europe.
The firm described France as the epicenter of these attacks, citing the presence of major crypto companies and executives, public displays of wealth inside parts of the crypto community, voluntary doxxing, and exposure from sensitive data leaks.
The January 2025 kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner remains one of the clearest examples of the threat. They were held for ransom before being rescued by police. The case reinforced fears that crypto wealth, once connected to a person’s real-world identity, can create serious physical danger.
Ledger’s 2020 customer database breach remains another important part of the risk backdrop. The hack exposed more than 270,000 personal records and led to years of phishing, harassment, and physical-threat concerns for affected users.
“France ranks among the most targeted countries in the world for this type of breach,” CertiK said.
Investor Takeaway
The rise in French wrench attacks shows how crypto crime is moving beyond exchanges and smart contracts. For investors and firms, operational security, personal privacy, and data hygiene are becoming as important as custody design.
What Does This Mean For The Crypto Sector?
The French response shows that crypto adoption can create new public safety demands when large numbers of users hold transferable assets that can be moved quickly and irreversibly. The same features that make crypto attractive for global settlement can make victims vulnerable under physical coercion.
For exchanges, wallet companies, and institutional service providers, the implications are practical. Firms may need stronger customer data controls, clearer emergency procedures, and better cooperation with police. Executives and employees may also need tighter personal security protocols, especially when their roles or holdings are publicly known.
The issue also has regulatory consequences. A country with a large crypto user base cannot rely only on licensing rules or anti-money laundering controls if criminals are targeting people in their homes, offices, and public spaces. Physical security is becoming part of the broader digital asset policy framework.
France’s next steps will be watched closely across Europe. If the new plan improves prevention and response times, it could become a model for other crypto-heavy jurisdictions. If attacks continue to rise, pressure will grow for tougher data protection rules, closer industry-police coordination, and more aggressive action against cross-border criminal networks.
