French police have reportedly arrested six people, including a minor, over the kidnapping of a 35-year-old magistrate and his 67-year-old mother, including one involving cryptocurrency.
According to a report by France 24, citing AFP, the magistrate’s colleague received his photo and threatened to mutilate the hostages if no cryptocurrency payment was made.
The two women were held for about 30 hours in a garage in the Darmi region before they managed to raise the alarm and escape without paying a ransom.
The case comes amid a wider rise in crypto-related kidnappings in France. In 2025, French authorities charged 25 suspects, including several minors, over a series of kidnappings and attempted kidnappings of crypto investors and executives, allegedly demanding ransom in digital assets.
Related: Wrench attacks against crypto holders are increasing and becoming ‘more violent’
In the same year, an attempted kidnapping of the daughter and grandson of Pierre Nouzat, co-founder and CEO of French crypto exchange Paymim, was foiled after the victim fought back and escaped from her attackers.
Previous French cases include an attack on a Ledger wallet user near Paris, in which the attackers tried to force the victim to transfer crypto, and the kidnapping of Ledger co-bondsman David Baland and his partner, during which Baland cut off part of his finger before breaking free.
Abductions “happening every 2 days”
France has drawn attention to crypto-security researchers tracking “wrench attacks,” physical attacks, home invasions and kidnappings to extract private keys.
“10 out of 10 wrench attacks so far this year have been in France,” Bitcoin (BTC) security advocate Jameson Loup said on Friday.
Related: Why Wrench Attacks Are Becoming the Most Violent Form of Cryptocrime
French bitcoin developer and founder Kevin Lueck also raised the alarm on X, writing that “France is really f**ked up.” He said he had to explain to the relatives living there that “at this stage, they will kidnap someday. And there is nothing I can do about it.”
In the same thread, he claimed that “kidnappings (are) happening every 2 days in France now” and warned that it doesn’t matter now whether you’re a celebrity or not.
“It seems that whoever used bitcoin in any way, randomly, who used bitcoin in any way, paid taxes on it, paid taxes on it,” he said. “Kidnappers basically go unpunished,” he added.
Video journalist and influencer Joe Nakamoto issued a stern warning of his own: “If you’re a doxed bitcoiner or crypto person in France. Leave. Get out. Wrench is attacked every day.”
Global problem, not just France
Security experts advise that the use of technical tools such as time-locked wallets, decoy wallets and withdrawal delays are only part of the answer, agreeing that wherever self-custodial crypto is held, adopting a low-profile behavior is crucial.
Despite France grabbing headlines for physical attacks on crypto-holders, the U.S. remains the country with the highest overall number of recorded wrenching attacks over a long period of time, with several other regions seeing documented cases of violent crypto-related repression, suggesting the trend is global rather than uniquely French.
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