French Authorities Crack Down on Wave of Abductions Tied to Digital Currency Schemes, with Nearly 90 Suspects Implicated in Ongoing Investigations
A surge in cryptocurrency-related kidnappings has prompted French authorities to take decisive action, with a staggering 88 individuals formally charged in connection with 12 ongoing cases. As of April 24, the National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office has taken a firm stance against these crimes, with 75 of the accused remaining in pretrial detention, including over 10 minors. The alarming rise in such incidents has been documented since 2023, with a total of 135 cases reported nationwide, marking a sharp escalation from 18 incidents in 2024 to 67 in 2025, and 47 new cases already logged in 2026.
The unprecedented trajectory of these crimes has been described by prosecutors as a "rapidly evolving criminal phenomenon" closely tied to the use of crypto assets. According to Vanessa Perrée, chief prosecutor at the National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office, the sheer volume of defendants across active cases is striking, with many incidents involving abduction, unlawful detention, and physical violence, ultimately forcing victims to transfer cryptocurrency or surrender digital securities as ransom.
Perrée has highlighted the presence of structured networks, with individuals involved in multiple cases, suggesting the existence of organized criminal groups operating across various regions of France. To combat this, law enforcement agencies have been working in close coordination, cross-referencing cases to identify broader connections. This collaborative approach has proven instrumental in advancing investigations, as seen in the recent arrest of three men, aged 25-30, in connection with a November 2025 kidnapping case in Challes-les-Eaux.
The suspects, who were subsequently charged and placed in pretrial detention, are also linked to a separate December 2025 case in Dompierre-sur-Mer, where a couple was abducted and forced to transfer approximately 8 million euros in cryptocurrency. One of the suspects' lawyers, Baptiste Bellet, has denied all charges, stating that his client contests the facts. The wave of crypto-related kidnappings gained widespread attention following the January 2025 incident involving Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner, which sparked a call to action for stronger personal security practices within the crypto community.
In response to the mounting evidence and rapid acceleration of these crimes since 2025, Perrée has commended investigative units for their diligent work in establishing connections between cases nationwide. The National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office has committed to bolstering its response to these crimes, with a focus on enhancing its criminal response throughout France. As the situation continues to unfold, the authorities remain vigilant, determined to tackle the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related kidnappings and bring those responsible to justice.