French crypto millionaires held hostage and tortured for 52 hours in kidnapping

In France, two crypto millionaires fall victim to a brutal kidnapping that lasts more than two days. The men are beaten, burned and forced to transfer cryptocurrency to their kidnappers. The case ends with a police chase and six convictions.

In short:

• Two French crypto millionaires are held hostage for 52 hours and severely abused by a gang demanding ransom in crypto.
• The perpetrators make off with $30.000, while initially demanding $150.000.
• France is now considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for crypto holders.

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Held for 52 hours and abused

The two victims were, according to the Daily Mail, stripped naked, tied up and subjected to serious abuse. The gang beat and burned the men for 52 hours, with the aim of forcing them to grant access to their crypto assets. The perpetrators demand $150.000 in total, but ultimately manage to make off with $30.000 in crypto.

The kidnapping comes to an end after a high-speed chase in which the police intervene. In the aftermath of the case, six people are convicted for their involvement in the attack. The case attracts international attention as one of the most violent so-called wrench attacks, in which criminals use physical violence to force crypto holders to transfer their funds.

France increasingly a target of crypto-related violence

Security firm CertiK has registered more than 50 wrench attacks targeting crypto holders worldwide in the first half of 2026. France stands out as one of the countries where this type of attack occurs most frequently. Earlier this year, the father of the founder of a French crypto exchange was also kidnapped, which showed that the threat extends to family members of well-known names in the sector.

The increase in this type of violent robbery raises questions about the safety of people with known crypto wealth. Experts point out that visibility on social media and in the press carries risks. The Bitcoin price currently stands at $62K, a decline of 1.4% in the past 24 hours. August is historically considered a difficult month for Bitcoin, which further increases attention on crypto holdings.