On February 9, French authorities announced the arrest of six suspects, including one minor, in connection with a cryptocurrency-related kidnapping. The group allegedly abducted a 35-year-old female judge and her 67-year-old mother, attempting to extort cryptocurrency ransom payments.
The incident occurred between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning last week. After restraining the victims, the suspects reportedly sent threatening messages and photos to the victim’s partner, demanding immediate crypto payment and warning of physical harm if their demands were not met.
Neighbor Intervention Disrupts Crime and Enables Victims’ Escape
According to police reports, a neighbor noticed unusual disturbances during the incident and intervened, helping both victims escape and preventing further harm. Authorities quickly launched an investigation, identified the suspects, and made arrests. The case remains under ongoing judicial review.
“Wrench Attacks” Emerging as a Growing Physical Threat in the Crypto Industry
In recent years, offline violent crimes targeting crypto holders have increased significantly. These incidents are commonly referred to as “Wrench Attacks,” where attackers use physical threats to force victims to transfer digital assets.
Compared with traditional cyberattacks, such crimes typically involve:
- Direct threats to personal safety and real-world identities
- Targeting victims through publicly available social media information
- Exploiting the irreversible nature of crypto transactions for extortion
- Limited effectiveness of conventional cybersecurity defenses
As digital asset values grow, personal safety and privacy protection have become critical risk areas for the industry.
Key Measures to Enhance Asset and Personal Security
To reduce exposure to similar risks, industry experts recommend strengthening multi-layered protection strategies:
- Avoid publicly disclosing asset holdings or portfolio sizes
- Use multi-signature or hardware wallets to reduce single points of failure
- Distribute assets across multiple storage locations
- Exercise caution with unfamiliar contacts and offline information sharing
- Establish emergency contacts and personal security response plans
The Role of On-chain Compliance and Risk Monitoring
Beyond individual security, exchanges and service providers are increasing surveillance of suspicious fund flows and ransom-related addresses. By leveraging Trustformer KYT and other on-chain monitoring tools, platforms can detect abnormal transfer patterns and trace potential criminal fund movements, enabling faster risk response.
Conclusion
The French kidnapping case highlights that crypto security risks extend beyond cyberspace. As physical attacks increase, privacy protection, real-world security awareness, and advanced on-chain risk monitoring are becoming essential pillars of the digital asset ecosystem.