France reports 77 cryptocurrency-related kidnapping and extortion cases in 2023, prompting new law enforcement security measures and industry cooperation frameworks.
Regulation & Gov ·
France has documented 77 cryptocurrency-related cases involving kidnappings and extortion since early 2023, marking a notable rise from 45 cases in 2022. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that emergency security measures implemented over the prior year produced around 200 arrests, either following attacks or preventing them before completion. The government has also expanded its immediate identification platform for industry participants to 724 registered people, representing an 11 percent increase in participation.
The Interior Ministry has developed a new security strategy built on three pillars: expanding intelligence gathering on criminal networks often based outside France, deepening cooperation with the Association of Digital Asset Holders to connect industry experts with government officials, and improving operational coordination among law enforcement agencies. The approach also emphasizes strengthened cooperation with foreign authorities; Nuñez cited the June 2025 arrest in Morocco of a suspect accused of ordering multiple kidnappings targeting the crypto sector, which he said led to an abrupt halt in attacks.
Whether the new strategy will substantially reduce the scale of these crimes remains unclear, and the full details of the government's next steps have not yet been disclosed. Armed robberies targeting individual crypto holders continue to surface, suggesting the threat persists despite enforcement efforts.