France Rolls Out Tough Security Plan as Crypto Attacks Surge

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France Plans New Security Measures Amid Rise in Crypto Attacks

Key Highlights

  • The French government is taking steps to counter rising ‘wrench attacks.’
  • Jean-Didier Berger announced the initiative at Paris Blockchain Week, highlighting a shift toward personal protection strategies.
  • In 2026, France has seen 41 such incidents to date, approximately one kidnapping incident per 2.5 days.

The French government is increasing security due to a growing number of kidnappings and a new type of crime involving cryptocurrencies, often called “wrench attacks.”

Jean-Didier Berger, a Minister with the Ministry of the Interior, revealed this information at Paris Blockchain Week. These attacks happen when criminals use force to get people to hand over their cryptocurrency and other digital holdings.

To crypto asset holders: a security plan is being launched to protect you from potential violence. Keep choosing France! 🇫🇷

— Jean-Didier Berger (@JD_Berger) April 16, 2026

Berger announced the launch of a preventative tool that has already attracted thousands of sign-ups from people worried about cryptocurrency scams. His team is also collaborating with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to create a more comprehensive plan in the coming weeks.

Instead of simply warning people about attacks, we’re now focusing on helping them protect themselves. As Berger explained, “We’re proactively working to prevent these wrench attacks.”

Surge in crypto-related crimes

French authorities have reported 41 kidnappings linked to cryptocurrency since the start of 2026 – averaging about one case every two and a half days, according to recent news reports.

As a crypto investor, I was pretty concerned to see the data from CertiK about ‘wrench attacks’ in 2025. It seems France was a major hotspot, with 19 attacks – double the number we saw in the US! Overall, Europe accounted for around 40% of these attacks globally, which is a significant portion and definitely something to keep an eye on when considering where to invest.

What is a wrench attack?

So-called “wrench attacks” involve criminals breaking into someone’s home, kidnapping them, and then blackmailing them. These attacks typically target people who are known to own cryptocurrency, and criminals find this out by looking at their online activity – things like social media posts, information exposed in data breaches, or details collected during account verification processes (known as KYC).

Recent incidents include a home invasion targeting David Prinçay, the CEO of Binance France, which occurred in February, and the kidnapping of family members belonging to a magistrate.

Arrests by French law enforcement

As an analyst following this case, I can report that French authorities arrested seven individuals last year. The arrests were linked to the kidnapping of a 20-year-old Swiss citizen, and the incident appears to be connected to the cryptocurrency world.

On August 31, 2025, around 150 members of France’s GIGN, a highly skilled tactical unit, arrested a suspect at a snack bar on Rue d’Asti in Valence. The rescue took place in the Fontbarlettes area, and the victim, who had been held captive near the Valence TGV station for several days, was found tied up and safely released.

Precautionary measures

French authorities are developing new regulations for cryptocurrency, and users are being encouraged to protect themselves by safeguarding their private keys, being careful about sharing personal information, and signing up for the country’s fraud prevention registry.

It’s still uncertain if these actions will decrease the number of attacks. This situation shows a larger problem as more people use cryptocurrency: finding the right balance between encouraging new ideas and keeping users safe.

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2026-04-16 23:02