French Authorities Charge 88 in 12 Crypto “Wrench Attacks”

Image Credit: Unsplash

French National Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office (PNACO) have charged 88 people in 12 investigations linked to violent crypto extortion cases, as France deals with a sharp rise in so-called wrench attacks targeting digital asset holders.

Vanessa Perrée, the national prosecutor for organized crime, said more than 10 minors were among those charged. Seventy-five suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention, according to figures reported by AFP and French media.

Prosecutors Say the Attacks Point to Organized Networks

The cases involve kidnappings, unlawful confinement and extortion attempts aimed at forcing victims or their relatives to hand over cryptocurrency. Authorities said the number of suspects suggests more organized criminal networks, not isolated attacks.

French law enforcement has recorded 135 crypto-related violent extortion cases since 2023, according to the prosecutor’s office. The cases include attacks in which victims were held, threatened or injured while criminals demanded access to crypto wallets or ransom payments.

The phrase “wrench attack” is commonly used in crypto to describe physical coercion used to steal digital assets. Instead of exploiting a software flaw, attackers use violence, kidnapping or threats to force victims to give up private keys, seed phrases or wallet access.

Attacks Are Rising in France

The charges follow a series of high-profile cases in France. In 2025, David Balland and his partner were kidnapped in central France and held for a crypto ransom before being freed by police. French media have also reported cases involving relatives of crypto entrepreneurs and other high-value targets, including a recent incident near Grenoble where a magistrate and her elderly mother were kidnapped in a scheme linked to suspects recruited through Telegram.

These incidents are rising quickly year on year, with 18 reported cases in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 already recorded in 2026. The pattern has made France one of the clearest examples of growing physical security risks in the crypto sector, as attackers increasingly target individuals rather than systems.

The Threat is Moving Beyond Online Theft

Crypto crime is no longer limited to hacks, phishing, or exchange breaches. People who openly hold large amounts of crypto, have public profiles, or are known in the industry may face real-world danger, since controlling private keys can make them targets for physical attacks.

These cases also worry crypto companies, investors, and founders whose identities or assets are public. Authorities in France are treating such incidents as organized crime, focusing on the groups behind them. The trend highlights a growing risk for those who manage their own crypto: while self-custody removes intermediaries, it also puts full responsibility on individuals, making personal safety, privacy, and spreading assets more important than ever.