Masked gunmen, kidnapping, USB drive theft: Why are violent crypto crimes happening frequently in France

Cryptocurrency crimes in France are escalating. On the evening of Monday, January 6th, three masked gunmen broke into a private residence in Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, kidnapping a woman inside and stealing a USB drive containing encrypted data. This is not an isolated incident—according to publicly available records from security company Casa’s CTO Jameson Lopp, France has reported over 14 similar “wrench attack” cases, making it one of the high-incidence countries for violent crypto-related crimes in Europe.

From individual cases to trends: the current state of crypto violence in France

Incident overview and background

This incident occurred on Chemin Champs de Pruniers in Pruniers. After breaking into the residence, the suspects threatened the victim with a gun and used physical violence, then quickly fled with the targeted USB drive. The drive reportedly contained important encrypted assets or private key information, making it the clear target of the operation.

Fortunately, the victim managed to free herself within minutes and called the police. The case has now been officially filed, with local criminal investigation units and the national police regional bureau jointly investigating. The suspects are still at large.

The global scale of “wrench attacks”

The so-called “wrench attack” refers to a criminal method where perpetrators use physical threats to force victims to hand over private keys, hardware wallets, or encrypted storage devices. These cases are characterized by clear targets, direct methods, and high returns.

According to Casa’s database, over 70 such crypto-related “wrench attacks” have been recorded worldwide. Among them, France accounts for more than 14 cases, making it a major hotspot for violent crypto crimes in Europe. Behind this number lies a deeper question: why is France particularly vulnerable to such crimes?

Why France? The layering of multiple risk factors

Concentration of wealth and criminal opportunities

Cybercrime consultant David Sehyeon Baek pointed out in an interview with Decrypt that key factors include France’s high crime base and the high concentration of crypto wealth among founders, traders, and public figures. Coupled with widespread knowledge of digital assets, this makes the country a fertile ground for opportunistic and organized crypto crimes.

Compared to cash or traditional banking systems, cryptocurrencies have three main features that make them prime targets for criminal networks:

• High profits: single operations can yield assets worth millions
• Rapid cross-border transfers: no need for cumbersome traditional financial approvals
• Relative traceability: once funds are moved to mixers or exchanges, tracking becomes extremely difficult

Internal risks within law enforcement

Even more concerning is that France’s law enforcement system itself has become a weak link in the crime chain.

According to French media reports, a French tax official was indicted in June 2025 for abusing access to the national tax database. The 32-year-old tax officer, Ghalia C., worked at the Bobigny tax office in Seine-Saint-Denis. Her searches included not only prison guards but also cryptocurrency investors and well-known public figures (such as billionaire Vincent Bolloré).

Investigations revealed that her search activities were unrelated to her official tax duties and even correlated in time with subsequent violent home invasions. This suggests that criminals may have exploited such information leaks to obtain victims’ identities, addresses, and other critical data, enabling precise targeting.

From marginal incidents to systemic threats

The violent risks faced by real-world crypto holders are undergoing a qualitative shift. Once considered “marginal events” within the crypto community, these incidents are now evolving into significant security concerns.

Behind this shift is the expansion of crypto asset scales. As the value of mainstream coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum rises and more wealth flows into the crypto space, the economic motivation for violence against holders is increasing. Meanwhile, widespread crypto knowledge has made more people aware of the value of private keys, providing organized crime with more opportunities to commit crimes.

France’s case reminds us that this is not just a personal safety issue but also involves risks within law enforcement systems. When information leaks and violent crimes form a closed loop, the problem escalates from individual cases to systemic risks.

Summary

The frequent occurrence of violent crypto crimes in France reflects a larger reality: as the scale of crypto assets grows, the risks of violence against holders are intensifying. High wealth concentration, widespread crypto knowledge, and internal information leaks within law enforcement create a layered “crime ecosystem” in France. This is not an issue unique to France but a trend that the global crypto community must remain vigilant about. For individual holders, asset security requires not only technical protections (cold wallets, multi-signature setups) but also heightened awareness and precautions in everyday life.