Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Crypto World

France hit by 40+ crypto kidnappings as “wrench attacks” surge

Published

on

France hit by 40+ crypto kidnappings as “wrench attacks” surge

France saw 40+ crypto kidnappings since 2023 amid a 75% wrench‑attack surge, driven by overseas‑coordinated gangs targeting visible wealth.

Summary

  • French police memo links 40+ kidnappings between Jul 2023–Dec 2025 to crypto motives, with organizers operating from abroad via local recruiters.
  • Victims are mostly 20–35‑year‑old male investors, entrepreneurs, or influencers monitored through social media before kidnappings or home invasions.
  • CertiK reports 72 wrench attacks in 2025, up 75% YoY, with losses above $40.9m and physical assaults jumping 250%.

More than 40 cryptocurrency-related kidnappings occurred in France between July 2023 and the end of 2025, with evidence pointing to overseas organizers coordinating the crimes, according to French law enforcement authorities.

A confidential report from the Organized Crime Information, Intelligence and Strategic Analysis Service of the Judicial Police (SIRASCO) revealed the findings, French news outlet Franceinfo reported.

Advertisement

The kidnappings are typically orchestrated by organizers based abroad who coordinate with recruiters in France, according to the report. The recruiters connect the organizers with young individuals who have criminal records and carry out online intimidation and physical attacks.

Victims are typically men between the ages of 20 and 35 who are involved with digital assets as investors, entrepreneurs or influencers, the report stated. Many victims display their wealth on social media platforms, enabling kidnappers to monitor their daily routines and those of their family members, who are also targeted.

Physical attacks against cryptocurrency holders now constitute a “structural threat” to digital asset ownership, according to blockchain security firm CertiK. The firm reported earlier this month that “wrench attacks” — incidents in which criminals use violence, intimidation or confinement to force cryptocurrency holders to reveal private keys or passwords — increased by 75% last year.

Advertisement

CertiK documented 71 incidents in 2025 that resulted in significant losses, representing a 44% year-on-year increase, the firm stated.

Kidnapping represents the most common form of wrench attack, according to CertiK. The blockchain security firm also reported that physical assaults rose by 250% last year, indicating what it described as “a clear escalation in brutality.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Crypto World

US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Hit Strongest Gains Since February

Published

on

US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Hit Strongest Gains Since February

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have renewed the pace of inflows, recording their largest daily flows in weeks.

Spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs posted $471 million in inflows on Monday, the largest daily inflow since Feb. 25, when the funds attracted $507 million, according to SoSoValue.

The inflows came as the Bitcoin price briefly approached $70,000 before retreating below $69,000, according to CoinGecko data.

The volatility occurred amid ongoing geopolitical pressure as well as renewed concerns over Bitcoin’s quantum resistance, while the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remained in “Extreme Fear” at 13.

Advertisement

BlackRock’s IBIT leads the inflows at $182 million

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) led the inflows with about $182 million, followed by the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) with $147 million, according to Farside data.

The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) ranked third with nearly $119 million, marking its largest daily inflow since July 10, 2025.

On Monday, the blockchain analytics platform Arkham observed that ETF outflows slowed to a halt last week, with major issuers selling just about $16.6 million in Bitcoin. ARK Invest’s ARKB ETF purchased the most BTC, or $34 million in a week, it said.

Source: Arkham

Following the three trading sessions in April so far, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded about $307 million in net inflows, bringing total assets under management (AUM) back above $90 billion.

Related: Strategy adds $330M BTC as paper losses top $14.5B in Q1

Advertisement

In March, Bitcoin ETFs posted $1.3 billion in inflows, marking the first monthly gain after outflows of $1.61 billion in January and $207 million in February.

Ether ETFs record $120 million in inflows

US spot Ether (ETH) ETFs followed the recovery in sentiment on Monday, recording $120 million in inflows and offsetting $78 million in outflows from the prior two trading sessions.

Ether ETFs posted three consecutive months of losses, bringing total outflows for the period to about $770 million.

Other altcoin ETFs saw muted activity, with XRP (XRP) recording zero inflows on Monday, while Solana (SOL) ETFs posted about $247,000 in inflows.

Advertisement

Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter