France recorded 77 crypto-linked kidnapping and extortion cases in 2026, up from 45 in 2025. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez outlined a three-part security plan after the Ledger co-founder kidnapping and a wave of targeted attacks.
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France has logged 77 cases of kidnapping, unlawful detention, extortion, or attempted crimes linked to the crypto sector so far this year, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on June 30.
The figure is up from 45 cases in 2025. Nuñez spoke during a speech to the Association for the Development of Digital Assets, according to BFM Business.
"These are serious matters and your concern is legitimate," he told industry members. Nuñez argued that emergency steps taken over the past year had started to work. He said about 200 people had been arrested either after attacks or during preventive operations.
Nuñez cited a recent case in the Somme region, where suspects were arrested eight hours after the incident. The minister added that 724 sector actors had registered on immediate identification platforms, an 11% rise.
The new plan will focus on three areas. The first is stronger intelligence sharing, especially because some alleged organizers are based outside France. "Intelligence sharing is fundamental and extremely effective," Nuñez said, adding that authorities need more information on teams ordering attacks.
The second area is a closer partnership with Adan. The ministry plans to build a network of experts that will include industry actors and state officials. The third is stronger operational coordination between services, along with cooperation with countries where alleged sponsors are present.
France has faced several violent crypto-linked cases over the past year. Ledger co-founder David Balland was released after being kidnapped in January 2025, as crypto market analysis reported. Authorities said kidnappers demanded a crypto ransom. French media reported the case involved severe violence.
The trend later widened to relatives of crypto industry figures. French prosecutors charged 25 people in June 2025 in connection with attempted kidnappings targeting crypto figures and their families. The suspects were aged between 16 and 23. Authorities linked several plots to stolen vehicles, fake courier branding, and social media recruitment.
The official response has included raids, preventive checks, and cross-border police work. Moroccan authorities arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou in Tangier in June 2025. French prosecutors accused him of playing a key role in several abduction plots, including the Balland case.
Nuñez said the series of attacks stopped suddenly after the Morocco arrest. He did not give full details of the new plan, said it would be "more ambitious" than earlier steps. The ministry now aims to combine faster alerts, wider intelligence work, and closer links with crypto industry groups.
A French influencer was released after kidnappers found his wallet was empty, as Bitcoin (BTC) profile reported. The episode showed that social media activity can draw criminal attention even without significant holdings. French officials are now treating the issue as both an organized crime matter and a sector security concern.
The 77 cases so far this year represent a 71% jump from 2025's total. Nuñez did not specify how many of the 2026 cases involved actual kidnappings versus attempted crimes. The minister said the new security plan would be rolled out in phases, with the first operational measures expected before the end of the third quarter.
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