French authorities reported 90 cases of crypto-related crimes, including kidnapping and extortion, between January 1 and mid-August 2026. During this period, police made 223 arrests and 126 individuals were imprisoned.
Data from the security firm Gart.io indicates that France leads globally with 73 physical attacks on crypto holders this year, surpassing the USA with 66 and the UK with 27 incidents.
Researchers attribute the surge in violence to data breaches, specifically a 2024 leak from French tax authorities and a January 2026 breach at the crypto reporting firm Waltio, which affected 50,000 users.
Criminals are increasingly targeting relatives of crypto holders, with such cases accounting for over 40% of incidents in France. Investigations are now being coordinated by the specialized agency JUNALCO.
