French Police Nab 7 Suspects in Brazen Crypto Kidnapping Attempt

French authorities just dismantled a kidnapping ring targeting cryptocurrency investors—proving once again that digital assets attract more than just speculative interest.

The Operation Details

Seven individuals now face serious charges following a coordinated police operation across multiple jurisdictions. The group allegedly planned to abduct a high-net-worth crypto holder to access their digital wallets—a chilling reminder that physical security matters as much as cold storage.

The Market Irony

While kidnappers see crypto holders as walking ATMs, traditional finance still can't decide whether to regulate us into oblivion or pretend we don't exist. At least these criminals recognized the value proposition faster than most legacy banks.

Security Wake-up Call

This isn't some theoretical threat—it's happening now. If you're stacking sats, you'd better have a security plan that extends beyond two-factor authentication. Your keys might be secure, but are you?

Final Thought

Seven arrests won't stop the next plot, but they sure make one hell of a public service announcement: maybe keep your crypto gains quieter than your political opinions at Thanksgiving dinner.

• French authorities rescued a 20-year-old Swiss man in Valence after he was kidnapped and held for days regarding his crypto assets.
• This singular case shows the rise in wrench attacks in France.

As the adoption of cryptocurrency continues to grow, there has simultaneously also been an increase in the rate of crypto-related crimes. These crimes range from on-chain wallet drainage to platform hacks and even to real-life robbery and crypto kidnap cases.

At different times, Tronweekly has uncovered how some crypto investors had been lured, kidnapped, and threatened to share their assets’ private details. Tronweekly also recorded an article in May that covered how much crypto kidnapping had grown in 2025, with France leading the number.

France’s Recent Crypto Kidnap Case

According to the details shared by a local newspaper, Le Dauphiné Libéré, the French authorities have detained seven people for kidnapping a 20-year-old Swiss man. This particular case is said to be a vital one in the disturbing rise in France-based cryptocurrency abductions.

The victim was successfully rescued in Valence last Sunday after the police had carried out a major operation that involved around 150 gendarmes to carry out the mission. The 20-year-old abductee was found tied inside a house located close to the city’s high-speed train station. The details in the newspaper explained that the abduction lasted several days, leaving him in an unsafe condition before help arrived.

How the Authorities Fished Out the Crypto Kidnap

Le Dauphiné Libéré reported that on the 2nd of September. According to the details, the elite GIGN unit, a part of the French police, carried out the raid inside a small restaurant on Rue d’Asti, in the Fontbarlettes neighborhood of Valence.

The snack bar was said to have been used as a meeting point for the kidnappers. And according to the details shared, the manager of the establishment had no connection to the criminal group.

The Grenoble research section led the investigation, with the support of GIGN forces. Their joint effort helped to expose that the 20-year-old Swiss national had been secretly held hostage under unclear circumstances. Fortunately, he was freed on the afternoon of August 31 when officers stormed the hideout and found him restrained inside the house NEAR the Valence-TGV station.

This incident is one of many recent cases happening in the real world and is known as “wrench attacks.” Basically, kidnappers target wealthy cryptocurrency traders, executives, or even family members, and then proceed to use violent methods to obtain access to their digital assets. This also representsoneof the continuous reports of wrench attacks in France.

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