The 10th cryptocurrency kidnapping incident has occurred in France this year. A man was kidnapped for 5,000 euros and his Ledger key. It remains unclear how many tokens were in his hard wallet, and the attackers have not yet been arrested.
Law enforcement is taking this terrible pattern very seriously. They arrested gang leaders in Morocco earlier this month. The gang may still be active, or unrelated copycats may be operating. Both scenarios are ominous.
France Experiences Another Cryptocurrency Kidnapping
The cryptocurrency industry has always had dark elements, but today's wave of crime represents a new level of violence. Cryptocurrency kidnappings have occurred across multiple continents, but France is experiencing particularly dark times.
According to local reports, the country has witnessed such an attack for the tenth time this year.
A 23 year old man was kidnapped Tuesday while out shopping in Maisons-Alfort, France. The attackers called his partner and demanded his Ledger and 5,000 EUR in cash. She complied & he was released.
— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) June 20, 2025
This is the 10th wrench attack this year in France!https://t.co/ZE7WK8vtcQ
So far, law enforcement in France has only provided approximate information about the kidnapping victim.
A 23-year-old man was kidnapped in Maisons-Alfort, a Paris suburb, and his partner was forced to hand over 5,000 euros and his wallet password. The police did not disclose how much money was in the wallet or whether the victim was running a business in the industry.
This last question is particularly concerning. Authorities have promised to pass new measures to protect French cryptocurrency entrepreneurs from kidnappings.
Web3 CEOs and founders and their families have become targets of this violence, creating an atmosphere of fear in the country's cryptocurrency community.
Earlier this month, France collaborated with Morocco to arrest key kidnapping leaders, but some suspects remain at large. Moreover, they have employed or enticed local personnel to carry out violence without setting foot in France.
In other words, these detained leaders may not be related to today's events. While one organized gang may have started the wave of crime, it is now an international news story. Today's attackers could be copycats.
Both of these possibilities are extremely frightening for France, especially since today's kidnapping appears successful. The criminals knew about the victim's hard wallet, obtained it, and have not yet been arrested.
The government's efforts to stop this headline-grabbing wave of crime seem insufficient so far.
