French National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office: Surge in Cryptocurrency Kidnapping Cases, 88 Charged and 75 Held in Custody

Odaily Odaily reports that the French National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (Pnaco) has stated that kidnapping and illegal detention cases involving cryptocurrency continue to surge. Among the 12 related cases currently under investigation, 88 people have been charged, including more than 10 minors, and 75 others are being held in pre-trial detention.

According to prosecution data, since 2023, French law enforcement has recorded 135 such cases, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The cases often involve violent kidnapping, ransom demands, and forcing victims to transfer crypto assets. The prosecutor's office noted that some suspects have appeared in multiple different cases, indicating the formation of a structured criminal network behind these incidents. The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland is also regarded as a significant marker of the escalating security risks in the French crypto industry. (Lemonde)