France in the crypto thriller – kidnapped because of Ledger?
The most important thing shortly
- A 23-year-old was kidnapped in a Paris suburb.
- The perpetrators asked 5,000 euros and access to his Ledger wallet.
- He was later released.
- It is already the tenth of such kidnapping in France in 2025.
- The police suspect organized cryptocrimity.
- Experts warn of growing physical threats from “Wrench Attacks”.
- France is considered a hotspot for this new form of violent crimes.
- The authorities call for increased caution.
- Security should be thought digitally and physically in the future.
France is shaken after another violent incident that was directed against the country's crypto community. During the tenth crypto reduction this year, a 23-year-old man was kidnapped in Maison-Alfort, a suburb southeast of Paris. His kidnappers demanded 5,000 euros in cash and access to his Ledger hardware wallet before having to release him unharmed later on the same day.
In 2025 France suffered the tenth kidnapping in connection with cryptocurrencies: € 5,000 cash and Ledger Wallet in the sight of the shocking kidnapping.
Shocking news from France shaked the crypto community again
A 23-year-old man was reportedly kidnapped and held against ransom by individuals who demanded € 5,000 in cash and access to his Ledger crypto wallet. Fortunately, the victim was released, but the incident marks the tenth confirmed kidnapping in connection with cryptocurrencies. This is the case in France alone in 2025 and illustrates an alarming trend in the increasing overlap of digital assets and real criminal activities.
According to the investigation, the perpetrators specifically aimed at the person because of their crypto stocks, which bound to a troubling increase in physical threats to blockchain assets. The attackers, presumably part of an organized gang, forced the victim to grant access to his wallet, which probably contained thousands – if not – in cryptocurrency.
Shocking news from France: A 23-year-old man was kidnapped, released after abductors demanded €5K cash & his Ledger wallet.
This is France’s 10th crypto-related kidnapping this year.
Police are investigating as organized gang activity. Stay safe out there. #CryptoSafety pic.twitter.com/HjBxDCOAHo— The Coin Republic (@TCR_news_) June 20, 2025
Since then, the French law enforcement agencies have initiated a formal examination, with the matter being part of a more comprehensive pattern of organized cryptocrimity.
The authorities are now asking for cryptocurrency owners to take additional precautions, including storing hardware wallets in secure, secret places, avoiding public disclosure of digital assets and use of multi-sig wallets or cold storage with separate restoration phrases for additional protection.
Remember the crypto holder’s daughter that they tried to kidnap in France? When this comes in, it would be best to keep a low profile.
— LazerBone (@LazerBone1980) June 20, 2025
Cyber security experts also emphasize that the crypto community has to start looking at security through a hybrid lens-digital and physically. Phishing fraud and online exploits are widespread, physical coercion and kidnapping quickly develop into the dark side of the general crypto acceptance.
Take care of yourself. The blockchain is safe, but your physical security is even more important.
This disturbing case occurs in the midst of general concern about cryptocrimity in Europe, with France a strong increase in led by Ledger -oriented robberies and personal extortion attempts. Since crypto is increasingly integrating into the real financial world, new threats are being created that combine the control of digital assets with criminal tactics from the old school.
A worrying trend in crypto attacks
This latest case illustrates a disturbing increase in the so-called “Wrench Attacks”-a term that describes physical attacks or kidnappings, the aim of force the victims to give access to their cryptocurrency wallets.
The next crypto-related kidnapping in Europe, this time in Paris, France 🇫🇷, were three men attempted kidnapping the daughter of a crypto platform’s CEO, fortunately without success! pic.twitter.com/l6mbcdit4q
— CR1337 (@cryptonator1337) May 13, 2025
France has become a special hotspot for such crimes: Almost a third of the 32 world-famous wrench attacks in 2025 occurred in France, as can be seen from open source data from Cypherpunk Jameson Lopp.
The increase in these attacks is attributed to the growing popularity and the value of cryptocurrencies, which are often stored in hardware wallets such as Ledger devices. These wallets are highly safe against digital theft, but offer hardly any protection against physical abuse.
Criminal gangs have adapted and aim not only on crypto owners, but also on their families. They apply violence or threats to get private keys and cash.
NEW: 26-YEAR-OLD TIKTOK INFLUENCER AND TRADER ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED IN FRANCE, BEATEN, AND HELD FOR €50K IN CRYPTO – RELEASED AFTER KIDNAPPERS DISCOVERED THE VICTIM DID NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT CLAIMED – PER EUROPE1 pic.twitter.com/aDbHYMqWX7
– Degen News (@Degeneratenews) June 15, 2025
The kidnapping of Maison-Alfort is an urgent memory of the risks associated with the possession of large amounts of cryptocurrency. Hardware wallets such as Ledger offer robust protection against cyber theft, but users cannot protect against physical threats.
Since the law enforcement authorities continue to act against organized gangs, crypto owners are urgently asked to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their assets.
Since France has already recorded the highest number of crypto-related kidnapping for years, the authorities and the crypto community are equally alert and hope to curb the flood of violent crime before escalating.
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