France has witnessed a sharp increase in crime involving cryptocurrency, with 77 reported kidnapping, extortion, or attempted extortion cases linked to crypto in the first half of 2026. This marks a significant rise compared to the total 45 incidents recorded throughout 2025, highlighting the country’s growing status as a hotspot for so-called "wrench attacks," where criminals use physical threats to force victims to transfer crypto assets.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged the seriousness of the situation during a speech to the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (ADAN). He pledged a more robust government response, which will include enhanced intelligence sharing, closer collaboration with the crypto industry, and improved coordination among law enforcement agencies. These measures come amid concerns over international criminal networks targeting crypto holders in France.
The government has already deployed emergency prevention and protection tools for crypto owners and professionals, including a rapid-alert platform that has registered over 700 users. Since its launch, authorities have made 200 arrests related to crypto crimes, aided by victims’ use of an emergency identification hotline that reportedly led to the swift apprehension of an attacker within hours of an incident.
France’s appeal to criminals partly stems from its substantial crypto ownership; ADAN estimates that roughly 11% of the French population holds cryptocurrency, amounting to about 7.3 million individuals. Additionally, the country’s ecosystem includes prominent crypto companies and executives who often publicly disclose holdings and identities, increasing their exposure. This environment, paired with past high-profile data breaches—such as the 2020 Ledger hack affecting hundreds of thousands of users—has made France a focal point for these violent crimes.
Blockchain security firm CertiK recently reported a global 41% rise in crypto wrench attacks during early 2026, with Europe, and particularly France, emerging as the epicenter. The persistent threat underscores the challenges of protecting digital asset holders from crime that bridges the digital and physical worlds, prompting the French government’s commitment to a comprehensive, ambitious anti-crime strategy in the crypto sector.