About 70% of all French key attacks, physical attacks on cryptocurrency holders and their families, carried out in an attempt to steal digital assets, occur in France, according to Bitcoin journalist Joe Nakamoto.
There were 41 crypto-related kidnappings in France so far 2026, Nakamoto he saidthat is, approximately one attack every two and a half days, he added.
He attributed the rise in French key attacks to the collection of know-your-user data, which is stored on centralized servers that have been compromised in several high-profile data breaches, including that of hardware wallet vendor Ledger in 2020.
Overview of French key attacks in France so far in 2026. Source: Joe Nakamoto
That data leak exposed the identities, home addresses and emails of more than 270,000 customers worldwide, he added. Jameson Lopp, CEO of crypto wallet and key management company Casa, he said:
“France is the canary in the coal mine, showing how financial regulations create a surveillance apparatus that causes direct harm to bitcoin owners.”
Opposition to data collection based on the “know your customer” principle is growing within the crypto and Bitcoin communities, as holders of digital assets and continue to be the target of physical attacks and kidnappings, causing the need for enhanced security measures.
Related: Europe sees ‘hyperconcentration’ of crypto key attacks as losses hit $101 million
Don’t become a target: Bitcoiners offer tips to protect against attacks
The attacks are usually orchestrated by criminals living abroad, who recruit young people living in France to carry out physical attacks, Nakamoto said.
Users can stay safe by using crypto custodian services that offer security features such as a pre-arranged word or phrase that lets the custodian or key management company know that the owner is under active attack.
Database of known French key attacks. Source: GitHub
The company can then freeze the funds, making sure attackers don’t access them, and can even alert law enforcement, he said.
He also suggested keeping a “mommy” crypto wallet with a small amount of funds to hand over to criminals in the event of an attack.
Ultimately, cryptocurrency owners should keep a low profile and not discuss crypto-topics online or publicize that they own digital assets, he added.
At least 88 people were arrested in connection with crypto-key attacks in France, according to Vanessa Perrée, the state prosecutor for organized crime.
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