The French cryptocurrency industry is calling for stricter regulatory and security measures after Interior Minister Laurent Nunez unveiled a new plan to protect digital asset holders from ransom kidnappings.
While the sector acknowledges the government’s renewed focus on the issue, industry representatives argue that the proposed framework does not go far enough to address the escalating threat.
North Korean cybercriminal groups alone have stolen $643 million in digital assets during the first half of 2026, maintaining their position as the world’s largest source of digital asset theft.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by official figures from the Ministry of the Interior, which recorded 77 cases of crypto-related kidnappings in France so far in 2026.
This number already exceeds the total count of such incidents reported throughout all of 2025, signaling a sharp acceleration in criminal activity targeting wealthy digital asset holders.
The rise in physical security threats coincides with a broader global surge in cryptocurrency-related crime.
North Korean cybercriminal groups alone have stolen $643 million in digital assets during the first half of 2026, maintaining their position as the world’s largest source of digital asset theft.