France crypto kidnappings linked to overseas kingpins, police say

Overseas criminal kingpins are responsible for ordering many of France’s recent crypto kidnapping attempts, say police.

Officers say 40 cases of organised kidnapping, committed between July 2023 and the end of 2025, have been linked to crypto-related motives, police wrote in a confidential memo, French media outlet Franceinfo reported.

More than half of the cases “specifically targeted cryptocurrency holders or people working in the crypto sector,” officers said.

French crypto-related kidnapping attacks have only accelerated in early 2026. Earlier this month, Binance’s French CEO was the subject of a failed attack in Val-de-Marne. And in January, a gang of young attackers in Isère tortured a 74-year-old man, wrongly assuming that his son was a crypto millionaire.

Intermediaries recruit criminals

The memo was authored by the Organised Crime Information, Intelligence and Strategic Analysis Service of the French Judicial Police, also known as SIRASCO.

People who issue kidnapping orders usually coordinate attacks from outside France, SIRASCO wrote in the memo.

These masterminds work “directly” with France-based intermediaries, who act as “recruiters,” police said.

These intermediaries typically hire people under 30 to carry out the attacks, said SIRASCO.

These individuals tend to have prior criminal records for crimes involving theft, violence, or drug trafficking.

The recruiters task some of these individuals with intimidating potential victims online. And the remainder are told to carry out kidnappings or hold victims captive.

SIRASCO says the victims also share a very similar profile: Most are males aged between 20 and 35 who are actively involved in the crypto world. They are typically investors, entrepreneurs, and social media influencers.

Police profilers say crime masterminds often learn of the victims’ crypto wealth through social media channels.

Many of the victims “freely flaunt” their luxurious lifestyles and crypto-derived wealth on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram, SIRASCO said.

Watching videos and reels helps kidnappers learn more about potential victims’ daily habits, as well as those of their loved ones, who are also frequently targeted.

With crypto-related violence rising fast around the world, security experts have told DL News crypto owners should learn to fight and said firms should develop “kidnapping and ransom” policies.

Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at tdalper@dlnews.com.