France Sees Surge in Crypto Holder Kidnappings

France is grappling with a sharp rise in kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders, with authorities reporting 41 such cases in the first four months of 2026. The incidents, which have escalated from scattered events in late 2024, now occur every few days and account for more than half of the organized kidnappings tracked by the country's intelligence unit on organized crime, Sirasco.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov highlighted the surge in a post on X, attributing it to leaked personal and financial data from French tax authorities. He claimed that officials sold information on crypto owners to criminals, enabling them to identify wealthy targets through major database breaches. "More data means more leaks, more victims," Durov wrote, criticizing government efforts to obtain identity details and private messages from social media users, which he said would heighten risks if systems are compromised. French officials have confirmed the overall trend of crypto-linked abductions but have not substantiated Durov's specific allegations of insider sales. The Interior Ministry noted that while such crimes were limited in 2024, about 30 cases emerged in 2025, with the pace accelerating...