More French Crypto Crime: Family Tied Up at Home

A French family, including two young children, was tied up and held captive in their home after attackers allegedly targeted the father over his involvement in cryptocurrency.

Four masked suspects broke into the family’s house in Vendin-le-Vieil, in the northern Pas-de-Calais department, during the night of Sept. 19-20, according to French media reports.

The victims were a couple and their two children, aged eight and 12.

The father, who works in the cryptocurrency industry, was assaulted during the home invasion. His 12-year-old daughter was also struck in the face with car keys, according to a source close to the investigation cited by BFMTV.

The attackers searched the property before threatening the father and forcing him to transfer roughly €40,000 worth of cryptocurrency, according to preliminary findings reported by Le Parisien.

The four suspects then fled the scene and remained at large as of Sunday.

The family was left in shock and was treated by emergency services following the ordeal.

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into kidnapping and extortion by an organized group. The case has been handed to judicial police units from Pas-de-Calais and Nord, together with France's anti-cybercrime office, OFAC.

France's crypto crime problem

This is yet another of the so-called "wrench attacks" that have increasingly plagued France's cryptocurrency community.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said in June that France had recorded 77 cases involving kidnapping, unlawful detention, extortion or attempted attacks linked to cryptocurrency since the beginning of 2026. Authorities had arrested about 200 people in connection with such crimes.

This wave of crypto kidnappings was kicked off with Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner, who were abducted from their home near Vierzon. One of Balland's fingers was cut off during the ordeal. He was rescued by French authorities.

In May, criminals abducted the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency investor in Paris' 14th arrondissement. He was held for roughly 58 hours before being rescued. The kidnappers severed one of the victim's fingers.

In February, a 35-year-old French magistrate and her 66-year-old mother were abducted in an apparent attempt to extract cryptocurrency connected to the magistrate's crypto-savvy partner.

France's fight against crypto-related physical extortion appears far from over.