French National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecution Office: Surge in Cryptocurrency Kidnapping Cases, 88 Individuals Indicted and 75 Detained

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

Prosecution data shows that since 2023, French law enforcement agencies have recorded 135 such cases, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. These cases often involve violent kidnapping, ransom demands, and forcing victims to transfer crypto assets. The prosecution pointed out that some suspects have appeared in multiple different cases, indicating the formation of a structured criminal network behind them. The previous kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland is also regarded as an important sign of the escalating security risks in the French crypto industry. (Lemonde)