France Cracks Down on Crypto Crime as Kidnapping and Extortion Cases Rise to 77
Key highlights:
- France has reported nearly 77 physical crypto crimes in 2026
- The country is enhancing its protective measures to combat these threats
- While MiCA regulation focuses on the oversight of crypto firms, France highlights the need for physical protection.
France is taking stronger actions against rising crypto crime as the ministry of the interior identified a sharp increase in kidnapping and extortion cases. With more than 77 similar cases reported in 2026, the authority has promised to expand its protection measures to tackle the growing crypto crime.
It is also important to note that the development takes place against the backdrop of Europe’s efforts to build a safe and transparent crypto market with MiCA regulations. These rules are mostly concerned with the oversight of crypto exchanges and firms, but the latest development in France shows the need for improved physical security.
France expands security measures amid rising crypto crime
France has seen a notable rise in crypto crime. In the first half of 2026 alone, the country has reported about 77 crypto-related kidnapping and extortion cases. This marks a sharp surge from the number of cases reported in 2025, which was just 45.
During an event hosted by the Association for the Development of Digital Assets on June 30, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez addressed these growing threats. Commenting on the significant rise in crypto crime in France, he noted, “These are serious matters and your concern is legitimate.” He added that the country has already taken significant measures to tackle these issues, which he believes have already started to show results.
Further, he highlighted the initiatives taken by the authority to combat these crimes. Around 200 people linked to similar crypto crime have been arrested. Through preventive operations or after tracking crypto kidnappings, the investigative team had been successful in identifying and arresting the suspects.
Strengthening his statements, Nuñez shared an example of a recent incident. In the Somme region, police arrested suspects within eight hours after a similar crypto crime.
In addition, the minister also revealed that about 724 individuals from the crypto sector have signed up for the country’s immediate identification platform. This is a major milestone as the figure is 11% higher than the previous one. It is also a valid sign of France’s growing efforts to strengthen security and improve coordination with the industry.
Explaining France’s three-part plan
Interestingly, France envisions strengthening its crypto security tactics through a three-part strategy. According to Minister Nuñez, the first priority is to enhance intelligence sharing. This is mainly because the ministry believes that many of the attackers come from outside France. Thus, Nuñez thinks that better information sharing could help authorities to identify and restrict their actions.
The plan’s second focus is the collaboration with the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (Adan). The government is expected to form a network of security experts. The group will include crypto industry representatives and public officials, aiming to improve the response to threats.
As the final part, France intends to improve coordination between law enforcement agencies. The country also aims to expand cooperation with foreign authorities. As the suspects are often from foreign countries, the government is planning to work closely with these nations.
France’s security push goes beyond MiCA
It is worth noting that France’s latest security push comes as Europe’s MiCA regulation takes full effect. The regulation includes stricter licensing, governance, cybersecurity, and capital reserves rules for crypto firms and exchanges.
However, the surge in crypto crimes, especially kidnappings, indicates that MiCA regulations alone cannot address the physical threats. As the industry continues to grow, the government should embrace more effective strategies and protective measures to fight these physical crypto crimes.
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