French authorities prosecute 88 suspects in crypto "wrench attack" cases, including over 10 minors

Odaily Planet Daily News The French National Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime (PNACO) announced on Friday that France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cryptocurrency kidnapping cases orchestrated by organized criminal groups, prosecuting 88 suspects, including over 10 minors.

According to statistics, France has recorded a total of 135 crypto-related attacks since 2023, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The prosecuted individuals face charges including kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all are currently in pre-trial detention. CertiK blockchain intelligence analyst Jonathan Riss stated that the masterminds behind such criminal groups are typically located outside the European Union.