Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to France’s interior minister, said authorities are stepping up protections for cryptocurrency holders in response to a rise in crypto-related kidnappings and so-called wrench attacks. Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week, Berger said his office has rolled out “preventative measures,” including a new prevention platform that has attracted thousands of registrations. He added that he and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez are preparing a more comprehensive plan to be announced in the coming weeks.
Berger’s comments followed a reported abduction in Burgundy. Prosecutors say a mother and her 11-year-old child were allegedly taken on Monday by four suspects who demanded a €400,000 ransom from the father, described in reports as a crypto entrepreneur. Authorities arrested the suspects and freed the victims on Tuesday morning, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
France has become a focal point for wrench attacks, in which criminals threaten, assault or coerce victims into transferring digital assets. The increase in such incidents has intensified pressure on the government to develop stronger deterrents and protections for people involved in crypto activities.
Media reports say that since the start of the year there have been 41 crypto-related kidnappings in France — an average of about one every 2.5 days in 2026. Cybersecurity firm CertiK reported a 75% global rise in wrench attacks in 2025, documenting 72 verified cases; France recorded the highest number that year with 19 confirmed incidents, and Europe accounted for roughly 40% of worldwide cases.
Other recent examples include a March report of a French couple in their late 50s who were robbed of roughly $1 million in Bitcoin by criminals posing as police, and a February incident in which six people were arrested over the kidnapping of a magistrate and her mother linked to a crypto ransom demand aimed at the magistrate’s partner.
Authorities say they are expanding prevention and response efforts as the pattern of attacks evolves. Readers are encouraged to follow official updates and verify details as investigations continue.