Cryptocurrency-related extortion in France

A series of violent home invasions and kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders has been reported in France.

In early September, armed attackers broke into a home in Alès, tying up a couple for over two hours while demanding cryptocurrency transfers. A young child was present during the incident, and the suspects fled before police arrived.

On September 20, 2026, a similar incident occurred in Vendin-le-Vieil, Pas-de-Calais, where four masked assailants held a family of four captive for several hours. The attackers targeted an IT professional working in the cryptocurrency sector, forcing him to provide access codes and transfer approximately €40,000 in digital assets. During the ordeal, the victims were restrained with black tape, and both the father and his 12-year-old daughter sustained injuries; reports indicate the daughter was struck in the face with car keys.

The Béthune prosecutor's office and judicial police units from Pas-de-Calais and Nord, alongside France’s Anti-Cybercrime Office (Ofac), have launched investigations into these organized extortion attempts.

Authorities have noted a rising trend of “wrench attacks” in France, where criminals use physical violence to coerce cryptocurrency holders into immediate transfers. Official reports indicate 77 such cases involving kidnapping or extortion linked to crypto were recorded in the first eight months of 2026, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.