French police arrest six in crypto kidnapping

French police arrested six suspects after a magistrate and her mother were kidnapped overnight in southeastern France in a case prosecutors say involved a crypto ransom demand.

The victims, aged 35 and 67, were found injured in a garage in the Drôme region on Friday morning after escaping, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Prosecutor Thierry Dran said kidnappers sent a message and photo demanding crypto payment and threatening mutilation, but confirmed that no ransom was paid.

“Alerted by the noise, a neighbor intervened and allowed our two victims to escape,”

Dran said at a press conference, adding that a large-scale police search led to the arrests.

Investigators said the case fits a broader pattern of so-called “wrench attacks,” a trend highlighted by blockchain security firm CertiK as increasingly organised and violent.

The incident follows other high-profile French cases, including the kidnapping of David Balland of Ledger, reinforcing France’s emergence as a hotspot for crypto-linked extortion.

Angela Ang of TRM Labs said rising crypto adoption and the perceived irreversibility of transactions have made such crimes more attractive, urging greater discretion and security.