France Sees Surge in Crypto-Related Kidnappings, Authorities Step Up Security

A wave of crypto-related kidnappings is sweeping through France, with wrench attacks becoming more brazen and violent. The country has witnessed at least 41 such incidents this year, prompting the government to take notice and implement new security measures. The rise in wrench attacks has put France under the international spotlight, with government officials acknowledging the scale of the problem and vowing to tackle it. According to Jean-Didier Berger, Minister Delegate to the Interior Ministry, a new set of measures is being prepared to address the issue, including a prevention platform that has already drawn thousands of registrations. However, authorities admit that more needs to be done as incidents continue to rise. The term 'wrench attack' refers to the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, and it has become a major concern for crypto holders worldwide. Researchers say that attackers are now identifying victims by building profiles, tracking their social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets, and looking for points of weakness. The problem is exacerbated when attackers get insider help from government officials, as seen in a case where a French tax official sold sensitive data to wrench attackers. The pool of potential victims has widened, with mid-level holders increasingly being targeted, sometimes based on limited or indirect signals. Cases now include families, with children targeted alongside crypto-holding parents, making the attacks harder to categorize by severity. In some instances, attacks have involved prolonged captivity and torture, and even resulted in severe physical harm, such as the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland in January 2025. Security experts point to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce risk by limiting how much can be accessed under duress. As crypto adoption grows, attacks are becoming more frequent and severe, turning what was once a niche concern into a broader security risk.