France is grappling with an escalating wave of violent crime targeting cryptocurrency holders, with the government now confirming that so called “wrench attacks” have nearly doubled in scale compared to last year.
A Sharp Rise in Attacks
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the country has recorded 77 cases of kidnapping, unlawful detention, extortion, or attempted crimes linked to the crypto industry so far this year, up from 45 in all of 2025, according to local outlet BFM Business. The minister delivered the figures on June 30 to members of the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (ADAN), telling them their fears are justified given the seriousness of these crimes.
The rise in attacks has coincided with several high profile incidents involving members of the crypto community. Earlier this year, the wife of Sandbox co-founder Sébastien Borget escaped an attempted kidnapping in France, adding to growing concerns over the physical safety of individuals linked to digital assets.
ADAN estimates roughly 11% of the French population, about 7.3 million people, owns cryptocurrency, giving criminals a large pool of potential targets. Security firm CertiK reported that wrench attacks rose 41% globally in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, with most incidents concentrated in Europe. CertiK has described France as the epicenter of the trend, pointing to the country’s cluster of major crypto firms, a culture of public “flexing” within the community, and repeated data leaks exposing holders’ identities.
Law Enforcement Response
Authorities say they aren’t standing still. Roughly 200 arrests have been made this year, either in direct response to attacks or as part of preventive operations. One recent success cited by the minister involved the swift arrest of suspects within eight hours of an incident in the Somme region, after the victim was able to activate a dedicated emergency protocol.
More than 724 individuals and entities from the crypto sector have now enrolled in a dedicated rapid identification and protection platform run by the Interior Ministry, an 11% increase in recent months.
Comprehensive Three Point Security Plan
To tackle the problem more effectively, the Interior Ministry has prepared what Nuñez described as a more ambitious and structured action plan, built on three main pillars:
- Intelligence sharing: expanded monitoring of cross border networks, since evidence suggests some organisers of these attacks operate from outside France, with improved information flow between domestic and international partners
- Industry partnership: deeper institutional collaboration with the crypto industry through ADAN, including a dedicated expert network bringing together sector representatives and relevant government agencies
- Operational coordination: reinforced coordination between police units, judicial authorities, and international counterparts for faster identification and neutralisation of perpetrators
Nuñez referenced a previous case in which the arrest of a key suspect in Morocco in 2025 led to a temporary reduction in similar attacks.
Evolving Threat Landscape
These crimes, often referred to as wrench attacks, typically involve armed groups forcing entry into homes or abducting victims and their families to demand cryptocurrency transfers under duress. The threat is not limited to France:
- A French couple lost nearly €900,000 in Bitcoin after suspects posing as police officers forced their way into the victims’ home.
- In the United States, prosecutors recently charged two Tennessee men in connection with a violent home invasion that allegedly resulted in the theft of approximately $6.5 million in cryptocurrency.
- One recent incident involving users of Kraken and Coinbase reportedly resulted in around $6.7 million worth of digital assets being stolen after an apparent physical attack on the victim.
In some documented cases, attackers have used extreme violence, including threats of mutilation, to coerce immediate wallet access. While early incidents primarily affected well known crypto entrepreneurs, recent patterns show criminals expanding their targets to include a wider range of asset holders, heightening anxiety across the French crypto ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
Minister Nuñez emphasised that the government remains committed to supporting the legitimate development of the crypto sector while ensuring the physical safety of its participants. He encouraged greater use of available protection tools and urged industry players to maintain discretion regarding their holdings.
The announcement reflects France’s effort to balance its ambition to become a leading European hub for digital assets with the need to address associated security risks. Further updates from the Interior Ministry are expected in the coming weeks.
