The French National Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime (Pnaco) stated that kidnapping and unlawful detention cases involving cryptocurrency are surging. Of the 12 related cases currently under investigation, 88 people have been charged, including more than 10 minors, and another 75 are in custody awaiting trial. Prosecutor's data shows that since 2023, French law enforcement has recorded 135 such cases, with 18 in 2024, rising to 67 in 2025, and reaching 47 so far in 2026. These cases mostly involve violent kidnapping, ransom extortion, and forcing victims to transfer cryptocurrency assets. Prosecutors pointed out that some suspects have appeared in multiple cases, indicating the formation of a structured criminal network. The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland is also considered a significant indicator of escalating security risks in the French cryptocurrency industry. (Lemonde)