France: An artist accuses the State of inertia regarding the increase in crypto-related kidnappings

Crypto-related kidnappings are increasing in France and are now attracting attention beyond the sector. Behind this rise, a climate of insecurity is emerging around digital asset holders. In this context, public statements are multiplying, notably that of the artist Pascal Boyart, who calls out the authorities’ inaction in the face of this phenomenon.

Pascal Boyart alerts on inaction regarding crypto-related kidnappings

In France, the debate about the security of cryptographic actors is gaining momentum. Pascal Boyart, a recognized artist engaged in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, speaks out about the state’s inaction. On the X network, he reacts to a report relayed by Bitcoin News media. The report reveals that physical assaults involving 5-dollar adjustable wrenches and kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders are rampant in France.

On this, Boyart accuses the government of complicity in the matter while venting aloud:

The French government is 100% complicit. Rendering the judicial system inoperative + kyc as kidnapp your customer; it’s part of their war against crypto.

Pascal Boyart

Thus, he questions the functioning of the judicial system in France regarding these crypto and KYC-related cases imposed on holders while considering these measures as part of the authorities’ war against the crypto industry.

An intensification of crypto violence placing France under pressure

France is progressively establishing itself as a major center of cryptocurrency-related crime, with about 40 cases of organized kidnappings handled by authorities from 2023 to the end of 2025, according to U.Today. This heavy trend fits into a broader dynamic where the country now appears as a focal point of physical violence targeting digital asset holders.

Furthermore, according to data reported by journalist Grégory Raymond, co-founder of The Big Whale, via a post published on X, 21 criminal cases were recorded on French territory from January 1, 2025, to January 9, 2026, representing nearly 28% of the 75 incidents reported worldwide.

This concentration highlights a particularly high exposure of Web3 actors in France. The targeted profiles are multiple, ranging from entrepreneurs and executives to individual investors, including traders or Bitcoin miners, as notably illustrated by the case of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger.

The attacks, often marked by intense violence (sequestrations, kidnappings, pressure on relatives), reflect an evolution in operating modes. Criminal groups now seem to act in a structured way, with upstream scouting and precise targeting, including family circles, to force victims to surrender their digital assets. Although not all cases are made public, these elements sketch an increasingly worrying security climate around cryptocurrencies in France.

DAC8: a regulatory framework questioning investor security

Since January 1, 2026, the implementation of the European DAC8 directive requires crypto exchange platforms to report their clients’ transactions to tax authorities. Practically, these actors must transmit extremely precise profiles. This includes full identity (name, address, date, and place of birth); tax identification number; exact portfolio value as of December 31; as well as the cumulative volume of purchases and sales made over the year.

However, this massive centralization of financial information creates colossal cyber and human risks. The paradox is chilling: under the guise of fighting money laundering, this hyper-concentration of vulnerable data ultimately provides criminal networks the perfect catalog to profile and attack potential targets.

In this context, the threat is far from a trivial hypothesis. The recent case of Ghalia C., a tax agent from Île-de-France under indictment, proves the vulnerability of this type of infrastructure. This official, according to Yahoo Finance, illegally consulted the “Mira” database, normally reserved for ultra-sensitive tax files, to leak confidential information to criminals.

Discreetly paid via Western Union, she targeted public figures such as Vincent Bolloré and prison guards, but especially crypto investors, considered ideal prey for extortion attempts. An internal flaw that tragically illustrates what could happen at the European scale with databases from DAC8.