France charges 88 suspects in crypto "wrench attack" cases, including over 10 minors

Odaily Planet Daily News: The French National Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PNACO) announced on Friday that France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cryptocurrency kidnapping cases orchestrated by organized criminal gangs, charging 88 suspects, including over 10 minors.

According to statistics, since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related assault incidents, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The charged individuals face accusations of kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all individuals are currently in preventive detention. CertiK blockchain intelligence analyst Jonathan Riss stated that the masterminds behind such criminal gangs are typically based outside the European Union.