Odaily Planet Daily reports: On Friday, France’s National Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime (PNACO) announced that judicial investigations have been launched into 12 cryptocurrency-related kidnapping cases orchestrated by organized crime groups, with 88 suspects, including more than ten minors, already indicted.
According to statistics, since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related incidents, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. Those prosecuted face charges including kidnapping, unlawful detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all individuals are currently held in preventive detention. Jonathan Riss, a blockchain intelligence analyst at CertiK, stated that the masterminds behind such criminal groups are typically located outside the European Union.


