- Pavel Durov stated that in simply three and a half months in 2026, 41 kidnappings of crypto holders occurred in France.
- He alleged that these assaults had been because of private knowledge leaks and tax database leaks.
- French authorities have confirmed greater than 40 crypto kidnappings or tried kidnappings since January.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated that France recorded 41 kidnappings of cryptocurrency holders within the first 3.5 months of 2026. He linked the surge to non-public knowledge breaches, claiming that criminals are utilizing that info to establish rich digital asset homeowners.
In a put up on X, Durov accused the French tax authorities of promoting crypto holders’ knowledge to criminals and pointed to an enormous database breach. He additionally warned that widespread state entry to identities and personal messages will increase the chance if these techniques are compromised.
French authorities have acknowledged the broader development, though not Durov’s particular allegations. Officers stated greater than 40 crypto-related kidnappings or tried kidnappings have been reported since January.
Instances transfer from uncommon to frequent
French police stated cryptocurrency kidnappings had been nonetheless restricted in 2024, however accelerated in 2025, with round 30 instances reported. The tempo will choose up once more in 2026.
Officers say the strategies differ and a few operations are directed by prison networks based mostly abroad. Goal choice is commonly delayed, and crimes vary from short-term hostage conditions to violent ransom calls for.
This month, a girl and her 11-year-old son had been kidnapped in Burgundy forward of a ransom demand for cryptocurrencies. The operation to free them concerned round 100 cops and 7 suspects had been taken into custody.
In one other incident in Anglet in April, 5 suspects allegedly raided cryptocurrency buyers and stole jewellery, cellphones, and computer systems, earlier than being arrested at Gare Montparnasse because the incorrect goal.
One of the severe assaults occurred in January 2025, when Ledger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped. The attackers lower off one in every of his fingers whereas demanding ransom. He was rescued the subsequent day.
French prosecutors have reportedly charged 88 individuals, together with minors, in at the very least 12 crypto kidnapping instances.
Associated: Fast improve in cryptocurrency kidnappings: French investigation into 3 million euro ransom case
Knowledge breach raises safety issues
In the meantime, a report associated to France’s Safety Documentation Company stated that the info of about 19 million individuals, together with names, addresses, and telephone numbers, was compromised. Cybersecurity voices argue that that is half of a bigger downside.
Safety skilled Sebra Tombe stated greater than 300 providers in France had been compromised because the starting of the yr, with 23 million accounts compromised and greater than 250 million data uncovered.
He cited the incident involving France Titres, the place greater than 11.7 million accounts had been compromised, breaches associated to nationwide fee businesses, EDF paperwork, police-related digital campus techniques, pupil platform ParkourSap, and client databases for retailers, insurance coverage corporations, and others.
If criminals can mix id knowledge, addresses, telephone numbers, and identified crypto possession, they will simply choose victims.
Associated: Seven males arrested in France on suspicion of cryptocurrency-related kidnapping
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