France Logs 77 Crypto Kidnappings and Extortions Since January, Minister Says

France has recorded 77 crypto-related kidnappings, extortions, and attempts since January, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said, as he unveiled a security plan he called more ambitious to protect digital asset holders.

The figure marks a sharp rise from the previous year and puts the spotlight on France again as the global center of violent crypto crime.

Inside the French Security Plan To Counter Crypto Kidnappings

Nuñez addressed members of the Association pour le Développement des Actifs Numériques (ADAN) this week.

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Ce soir, je me suis rendu auprès des représentants et acteurs de la filière crypto pour leur redire que les services du ministère de l’Interieur sont à leurs côtés pour garantir leur sécurité. J’ai pu leur présenter notre nouveau plan d’actions en la matière, qui vient… pic.twitter.com/7BtMGbVQ2g

— Laurent Nuñez (@NunezLaurent) June 30, 2026

According to BFMTV, he outlined a plan built on three pillars. 

• Strengthening intelligence sharing: He called this “fundamental and extremely effective.” The focus is on gathering more intelligence on the criminal teams behind these crimes, since those ordering them are sometimes based abroad.
• Strengthening the partnership with ADAN: This includes creating a network of experts to bring together industry players and relevant state agencies.
• Strengthening operational coordination: Finally, he pointed to improving coordination between government departments to neutralize offenders, as well as deepening cooperation with foreign states where the perpetrators of these crimes are located.

Concern had been building for months. In April, officials said France had suffered at least 41 crypto-related kidnappings and home invasions. That pace equaled roughly one every 2 to 3 days.

Notable Cases Drive the Crackdown

The plan follows a run of cases in 2026. In February, intruders targeted the home of Binance France’s chief executive. He was not there, and they fled with two phones.

Other 2026 attacks turned costly. In March, fake police officers robbed a couple of 900,000 euros in Bitcoin (BTC). In April, two men extorted 700,000 euros from a family of five.

The violence had intensified through 2025. One of the notable cases in January that year was when kidnappers seized Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner. 

These cases highlight the need for stricter security measures in France. The reach of the new plan will test whether the state can protect the sector.

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