France Reports 77 Crypto-Linked Kidnapping Cases in 2026, Unveils 3-Point Crackdown

France has recorded 77 kidnapping, unlawful detention, extortion or attempted-crime cases tied to the crypto sector so far in 2026 — a sharp jump from 45 such cases in 2025 — Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said in a June 30 address to the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (ADAN), reported by BFM Business. “These are serious matters and your concern is legitimate,” Nuñez told industry attendees, noting that emergency measures rolled out over the past year “had started to work.” Authorities say roughly 200 people have been arrested either during attacks or in preventive operations. In one recent Somme-region incident, suspects were detained just eight hours after the event, Nuñez added. He also said 724 sector actors have signed up to immediate-identification platforms — an 11% increase. New three-point plan Nuñez outlined a three-pronged strategy to curb the violence and organized-crime activity targeting visible crypto wealth: - Intelligence sharing: Boost cross-border and domestic intelligence exchange, especially because some alleged organisers are based outside France. “Intelligence sharing is fundamental and extremely effective,” he said. - Industry partnership: Forge a closer working relationship with ADAN and build a network of experts made up of industry participants and state officials. - Operational coordination: Improve coordination between police services and cooperate with foreign authorities in countries where alleged sponsors operate. High-profile crimes and enforcement France’s heightened focus follows a string of violent episodes over the past year. In January 2025, Ledger co‑founder David Balland was kidnapped and later released after kidnappers reportedly demanded a crypto ransom; French media described the attack as extremely violent. The threat expanded to family members of crypto figures: in June 2025 prosecutors charged 25 suspects, aged 16–23, in connection with attempted kidnappings targeting industry executives and relatives — plots that allegedly relied on stolen cars, fake courier identities and social-media recruitment. Law enforcement responses have included raids, preventive checks and cross-border cooperation. In June 2025 Moroccan authorities arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou in Tangier; French prosecutors allege he played a central role in several abduction plots, including the Balland case. Nuñez said the wave of attacks “stopped suddenly” after that arrest. Wider implications The latest figures underscore a persistent security problem tied to publicly visible crypto wealth and online profiles: in one case an influencer was released after kidnappers discovered his wallet contained no crypto. French officials now frame the phenomenon as both an organized-crime issue and a sector-specific security concern, with the ministry promising a “more ambitious” plan combining faster alerts, broader intelligence work and closer links between state agencies and the crypto industry.