French National Organized Crime Prosecution Office: Cryptocurrency Kidnapping Cases Surge, 88 Charged and 75 in Custody

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

According to prosecution data, French law enforcement has recorded 135 such cases since 2023, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 as of now in 2026. The cases often involve violent kidnappings, ransom demands, and forcing victims to transfer crypto assets. The prosecution notes that some suspects appear in multiple different cases, indicating the formation of a structured criminal network behind them. The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland was also seen as a significant marker of the escalating security risks in the French crypto industry. (Lemonde)