Bitcoin holders face risk as France logs 40+ kidnappings

France crypto kidnappings surge amid wrench attacks and overseas coordination

France has recorded more than 40 crypto-related kidnappings since mid-2023, with investigators linking a series of abductions and extortion attempts to digital-asset motives, according to French police. The escalation coincides with a 75% year-over-year rise in global “wrench attacks” in 2025; based on data from CertiK, France led the world with 19 of 72 verified incidents during the latest full-year window tracked.

In these crimes, assailants use physical coercion to force victims to unlock wallets or initiate on-chain transfers. Recent cases indicate targeting of entrepreneurs and influencers whose wealth signals are visible online, with elements pointing to coordination from abroad alongside local execution.

Why it matters: 40+ cases since 2023, organized crime networks

Victims are not limited to crypto executives; relatives have been abducted to compel rapid transfers under duress. According to TRM Labs, the perceived irreversibility and pseudonymity of crypto transactions, together with open-source reconnaissance via social media, makes digital-asset holders appealing targets for organized crime.

Privacy exposure compounds the risk. As reported by Forbes, leakage of personal data from breached databases and certain public disclosure requirements can increase a person’s visibility to criminal networks, especially when combined with conspicuous signals of wealth.

Immediate impact and safety steps for crypto holders and families

The immediate impact is behavioral: executives have tightened routines, varied travel, and separated personal from business devices, while families rehearse verification steps for sudden “urgent” requests. Security specialists cited by Decrypt warn that many wrench attacks likely go unreported due to fear of retaliation or reputational damage, which can obscure the true scale and hinder pattern disruption.

Risk reduction focuses on layered defenses rather than any single tool. Limiting public displays of wealth, reducing traceable social posts about holdings or locations, and segmenting custody across accounts controlled in different contexts can raise the effort required by attackers. Separately, strong device hygiene, privacy-aware communications, and pre-agreed family protocols for emergencies help reduce the effectiveness of social engineering and coercion.

French response: law enforcement measures and industry coordination

Authorities have moved to coordinate with industry leaders while adapting operational playbooks to the new threat. As reported by CoinDesk, measures under discussion or deployment include enhanced security briefings for at-risk professionals, dedicated contact pathways with police units, and tailored home-security reviews, alongside active investigations into organized networks.

After several high-profile incidents, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau underscored that protection efforts would be both immediate and ongoing. “I will bring together at Beauvau the cryptocurrency entrepreneurs … to work with them on their security, to make them aware of the risks, and to take together measures to protect them,” said Retailleau, France’s interior minister.

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $64,379, with very high implied volatility around 10.68% and a bearish sentiment profile (RSI near 32.6). Market conditions do not determine criminal activity, but they shape liquidity and timing pressures that criminals may attempt to exploit, underscoring the need for consistent security practices regardless of price moves.