France has become one of the world’s leading hotspots for physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency holders. Thirty-two cases have been recorded since the beginning of 2026, compared to nineteen for the entirety of 2025, and seventy-seven kidnapping, hostage-taking or extortion cases linked to cryptocurrencies were reported in the first half of the year. Among the most publicized cases is the abduction of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, whose captors cut off one of his fingers before his release by the GIGN. When facing this type of assault, physical safety is the absolute priority: security experts recommend avoiding confrontation, preparing a lower-value wallet to surrender under duress, and not revealing the full extent of one’s assets. After an attack, all transaction-related information must be preserved as funds remain traceable, and compromised access credentials must be replaced from a secure environment.
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