This year, France has reported 41 kidnapping cases targeting cryptocurrency holders

By: rootdata|2026/04/20 10:42:01

France has become a hotspot for wrench attacks, with at least 41 reported cases of kidnappings and home invasions related to cryptocurrency this year, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. Jean-Didier Berger, the Minister of the Interior's representative, stated that he is preparing a series of new measures with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to address this issue.

A wrench attack refers to physically coercing victims to transfer cryptocurrency assets through bodily violence. Data from Certik and Jameson Lopp shows that the number of verified physical coercion incidents globally reached 72 in 2025, a 75% increase year-on-year, with cases involving physical attacks rising by 250% year-on-year. David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped in France in January 2025. Security researchers point out that attackers are shifting from searching for wallets to hunting individuals, targeting victims through social media and leaked data.

Due to the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions, attackers often convert illegal gains into stablecoins and transfer them across chains to evade detection. Experts recommend using tools such as multi-signature, withdrawal delays, and spending limits to reduce the risk of being attacked.

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