French prosecutors have charged 88 individuals, including minors, over a series of violent “wrench attacks” targeting crypto holders across the country.
Authorities said 75 suspects are in pre-trial detention, linked to 12 cases under investigation by specialised judges at the Paris Judicial Court.
“The acts in question… are of particular seriousness, both due to the harm caused to individuals and the methods used to obtain transfers of crypto-assets under duress,”
Said national prosecutor, Vanessa Perrée.
Wrench attacks involve physical coercion such as kidnappings and home invasions to force victims to hand over crypto assets, highlighting growing real-world risks tied to digital wealth.
French authorities recorded a sharp rise in incidents, with 18 cases in 2024, 67 in 2025 and 47 already in 2026, reflecting a broader global increase in such crimes.
Investigators said some suspects were linked to multiple attacks, revealing organised networks operating behind the incidents and prompting coordinated efforts to dismantle them.
Officials urged crypto holders to limit social media exposure and remain cautious of scams, as increasing visibility of digital wealth continues to make investors targets.