French authorities have charged 88 suspects in a series of violent crypto-related attacks, with more than 10 identified as minors. The cases span 12 ongoing judicial investigations led by specialized magistrates at the Paris Judicial Court. The National Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office said 75 of those charged have been placed in pre-trial detention.

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Security risks in the crypto sector have included both cyber and physical threats. Exchange breaches such as the Bybit hack in February 2025 exposed vulnerabilities in trading platforms, while wider data leaks have affected personal information of millions of users. Authorities have warned that such digital exposures can, in some cases, be linked to real-world targeting.

Wrench Attacks Rise Across France

The charges include kidnapping, unlawful confinement, extortion, and money laundering carried out by organized gangs. Vanessa Perrée, National Prosecutor for Organized Crime at the French Ministry of Justice, outlined the scope of the offences. Officials said the cases reflect a broader rise in so-called “wrench attacks,” where victims are forced to hand over crypto assets under threat or violence.

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Law enforcement recorded 135 such incidents since 2023, including 18 cases in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 already in 2026. Authorities said the pattern points to “structured criminal networks” operating across the country.

Global Wrench Attacks Hit Record High

Recent arrests highlight the ongoing investigations. Three men aged between 25 and 30 were detained over a November 2025 kidnapping in Challes-les-Eaux. Days later, three more suspects were arrested in connection with a separate December case in Dompierre-sur-Mer. Two of them have already been charged. All six individuals are now in pre-trial detention.

Data from CertiK shows wrench attacks reached a record 72 incidents globally in 2025, rising 75% year on year. Losses exceeded $40.9 million. Europe accounted for more than 40% of cases, led by France with 19 incidents, compared to eight in the United States.