- The criminals robbed the household and kidnapped the lady and her son, demanding a ransom in cryptocurrencies.
- Legislation enforcement has arrested seven individuals concerned in a cryptocurrency kidnapping in France.
- The French authorities is taking new steps to fight cryptocurrency kidnappings within the area.
France has seen a pointy enhance in kidnappings demanding ransoms in cryptocurrencies for the reason that starting of 2025, coinciding with the rising recognition of digital belongings within the nation’s society. In a single latest incident, a lady and her 11-year-old son had been kidnapped after being robbed of their residence.
Lady and son kidnapped for cryptocurrency
Stories mentioned 4 masked people entered the sufferer’s residence on Monday, tied up her husband and father, and forcibly recovered money, jewellery and different property earlier than taking the lady and her son away. After beating and threatening to mutilate the daddy, they demanded $400,000 in digital foreign money.
After the person managed to flee the scene, he alerted the Navy Police, a particular pressure liable for defending civilians. The group sprang into motion virtually instantly, and by early Tuesday morning, the army police’s particular unit GIGN had situated the situation the place the criminals had been holding the sufferer hostage and launched him.
The investigation is presently underway, led by the JIRS public prosecutor’s workplace in Paris and entrusted to the Nationwide Gendarmerie Directorate, and 7 suspects have already been arrested. This case is separate from 13 different cryptocurrency-related kidnapping circumstances being dealt with by the brand new Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Workplace, which was launched in early January 2026.
France responds to fast enhance in cryptocurrency kidnappings
In the meantime, the French authorities is stepping up efforts to guard crypto holders amid the rising menace of kidnappings and wrench assaults. Jean-Didier Bergé, appearing French inside minister, mentioned his workplace was taking “precautionary measures” towards crypto-wrench assaults, together with launching a prevention platform with 1000’s of registrations.
Berger made the assertion throughout the not too long ago concluded Paris Blockchain Week, saying he’s working with French Inside Minister Laurent Nunes on what he calls a extra severe plan within the coming weeks.
It’s price noting that France has reported 41 crypto-related kidnappings for the reason that starting of the 12 months. This displays a mean of 1 assault each two and a half days. In the meantime, cybersecurity platform CertiK stories a 75% enhance in wrench assaults in 2025, with 72 confirmed circumstances worldwide.
CertiK famous that 19 of the confirmed circumstances occurred in France, and about 40% of the world’s circumstances occurred in Europe.
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