France charges 88 suspects in cryptocurrency "wrench attack" cases, including more than 10 minors

According to an announcement by the French National Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime (PNACO) on Friday, France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cases of cryptocurrency kidnapping orchestrated by organized criminal groups, and has so far charged 88 suspects, including more than 10 minors.

Statistics show that since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related attacks, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The accused individuals face charges including kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested 6 suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all individuals are currently in pretrial detention. Jonathan Riss, a blockchain intelligence analyst at CertiK, stated that the masterminds of such criminal gangs are typically located outside the EU.