France Arrests Six in Crypto Ransom Kidnapping of Magistrate

French authorities have arrested six suspects, including one minor, following the kidnapping of a magistrate and her mother in a crypto ransom plot, according to French media reports. The incident underscores growing concerns about the rise in violent “wrench attacks,” where criminals physically assault or kidnap victims to extort cryptocurrency transfers.

The 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother were abducted in the Drôme region of southeastern France and held for approximately 30 hours. The attackers allegedly targeted the magistrate’s partner, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, in an attempt to force a ransom payment in digital assets.

According to France 24, which cited Agence France-Presse (AFP), the victim’s partner received a photo of the hostages and a threat to mutilate them if payment was not made. The women ultimately escaped and raised the alarm, and no ransom funds were transferred.

The case has sparked renewed alarm among law enforcement and cybersecurity circles, particularly as France faces a surge in crypto-related kidnappings and violent thefts.

French police recorded a sharp increase in physical crimes targeting cryptocurrency holders in 2025, when authorities charged 25 individuals, including minors, in a string of similar attempted kidnappings of crypto investors and executives. Many of these crimes reportedly involved demands for ransom paid in Bitcoin (BTC) or other digital assets.

Past incidents include the attempted kidnapping of a relative of Pierre Noizat, CEO and co-founder of French crypto exchange Paymium, and the assault on a Ledger wallet user near Paris, where assailants tried to coerce crypto transfers. In one high-profile case, Ledger co-founder David Balland had part of his finger severed before being released by kidnappers.

Experts Warn: “Kidnappings Happening Every Two Days”

The rise in physical extortion crimes linked to cryptocurrency has alarmed both industry figures and security analysts. Bitcoin security advocate Jameson Lopp noted that “eight of the ten wrench attacks so far this year have taken place in France.”

Similarly, French Bitcoin developer Kevin Loaec posted on X that “kidnappings are happening every two days in France now,” warning that being publicly identified as a crypto user could make anyone a target.

He added that the issue stems from weak deterrence rather than technology, claiming that “kidnappers basically don’t get punished.”

Well-known Bitcoin advocate and journalist Joe Nakamoto echoed the warning, urging anyone publicly associated with crypto in France to “leave” the country, calling the frequency of wrench attacks “out of control.”

A Global Security Challenge

While France has attracted particular attention in recent months, experts caution that physical crypto extortion is a global phenomenon.

Security researchers point out that these “wrench attacks” — named after the hypothetical threat of forcing someone at wrench-point to hand over private keys — have been recorded in the United States, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe over the past decade.

To mitigate risks, cybersecurity professionals recommend using time-locked vaults, decoy wallets, and transaction delays, along with maintaining low public profiles regarding crypto holdings.

Though France has become a focal point of global concern, experts agree that violent crypto-related crimes are evolving worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for physical safety protocols alongside digital security measures.