The French National Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (PNACO) announced on Friday that France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cases of cryptocurrency kidnapping orchestrated by organized crime groups, and has charged 88 suspects, including more than 10 minors. According to statistics, since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related attacks, with 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. Those charged face charges including kidnapping, unlawful detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two separate kidnapping operations; all are currently in preventative custody. Jonathan Riss, a blockchain intelligence analyst at CertiK, stated that the masterminds of such criminal groups are typically located outside the EU.