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Kidnap cases demanding ransom in cryptocurrency have surged in France since the beginning of 2025, coinciding with the growing popularity of digital assets among the nation’s community. One of the most recent cases involved a woman and her 11-year-old son, who were kidnapped after a robbery assault in their home.
Woman and Son Kidnapped for Crypto
According to reports, four masked individuals broke into the victims’ home on Monday, tied up their husband and father, forcefully collecting cash, jewelry, and other assets before taking the woman and her son away. They demanded $400,000 in cryptocurrency after beating up the father and threatening to mutilate him.
After managing to escape the scene, the man notified the gendarmerie, a special military force charged with policing the civilian population. The group swung into action almost immediately, and by early Tuesday morning, the gendarmerie’s special unit, GIGN, had located where the criminals held the victims hostage and freed them.
Investigations are currently ongoing, led by the prosecutor’s office of the JIRS of Paris and entrusted to the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie, and seven suspects have already been arrested. This case is separate from 13 other crypto-related kidnapping cases being handled by the new anti-organized crime prosecutor’s office, which came into operation at the beginning of January 2026.
France Responds to Surging Crypto Kidnapping
In the meantime, the French government is stepping up activities to protect crypto holders amid rising threats of kidnapping and wrench attacks. According to Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to the interior minister of France, his office has taken “preventative measures” against crypto wrench attacks, including launching a prevention platform that has drawn thousands of sign-ups.
Berger made the statement during the recently concluded Paris Blockchain Week, noting that he was working with Laurent Nunez, France’s Interior Minister, on what he called a more serious plan in the coming weeks.
It is worth noting that France has recorded 41 reported crypto-related kidnap cases since the beginning of the year. This reflects an average of one attack every two and a half days. Meanwhile, the cybersecurity platform CertiK reported a 75% increase in wrench attacks in 2025, with 72 verified cases worldwide.
CertiK noted that 19 of those confirmed cases happened in France, while Europe accounted for roughly 40% of global incidents.
Related: Binance France Executive Targeted in Violent Home Invasion as Wrench Attacks Rise