France Escalates Response to Crypto Crime Wave as Wrench Attacks Hit Critical Levels

France is moving fast on crypto security after a brutal year of kidnappings and physical attacks targeting digital asset holders. Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to France's interior ministry, announced at Paris Blockchain Week that new protective measures are incoming—and frankly, they're overdue.

The stats tell a grim story. We're looking at 41 reported crypto-related kidnappings in France so far this year, which breaks down to roughly one attack every 2.5 days. That's not a trend—that's a crisis. And it's not unique to 2026; wrench attacks (the technical term for forcing victims to transfer crypto through threats or violence) surged 75% globally in 2025, hitting 72 verified cases worldwide, according to cybersecurity platform CertiK.

France dominates this ugly leaderboard. The country accounted for 19 of the 72 global wrench attacks last year, and Europe overall represents about 40% of worldwide incidents. We're witnessing organized criminal networks specifically targeting crypto entrepreneurs and their families.

The Recent Catalyst

Berger's announcement came days after another textbook example of this escalating threat. Earlier this week in Burgundy, four suspects kidnapped a mother and her 11-year-old child, demanding €400,000 ($471,000) in ransom from the father—a crypto entrepreneur. Authorities apprehended the suspects and freed the victims by Tuesday morning, according to France24 and the Paris prosecutor's office.

This isn't isolated. In March, criminals impersonating police officers robbed a French couple in their late 50s of $1 million in Bitcoin. A month prior, six people were arrested for kidnapping a magistrate and her mother in another crypto-ransom scheme targeting the magistrate's partner.

What's Actually Happening on the Government Side

Berger confirmed his office has already launched "preventative measures," including a prevention platform that's already drawn thousands of sign-ups. He's also coordinating with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on what he described as a "more serious plan" rolling out in the coming weeks. The details remain vague, but the urgency is unmistakable.

The French government faces mounting pressure to act. These aren't random crimes—they're targeting a specific demographic with predictable patterns. Attackers identify crypto-wealthy individuals, surveil them, then strike with coordinated violence. The fact that we're tracking one attack every couple of days suggests systematic targeting rather than opportunistic crime.