Paris Blockchain Week, the self-proclaimed “European power forum for the future of digital finance,” has reportedly doubled its safety efforts for this week’s occasion amid claims that France has seen one violent crypto-related theft try each 5 days on common this 12 months.
The tally for crypto-related assaults in 2026 hit 19 on Monday when a mom and son had been kidnapped from their dwelling in Burgundy, in keeping with The Register.
Franceinfo stories that the pair had been held hostage in a lodge room in Val-de-Marne whereas the attackers tried to extort the daddy, a crypto entrepreneur, for a whole bunch of hundreds of euros.
The pair had been launched unhurt on Tuesday following a profitable extraction operation by French counter-terrorism police.
It’s an issue the nation can’t fairly appear to shake with criminals persevering with to treat crypto holders and entrepreneurs as comparatively simple and really profitable pickings.
In February, the president of Binance’s French arm was focused by three armed crypto robbers. The attackers solely managed to steal his telephones and, after failing to confront him in individual, they determined to pursue a special goal.
In January, a 74-year-old man was tortured for 16 hours by three males trying to extort $3.5 million value of crypto from his son. They reportedly gave up after they found his son wasn’t a rich crypto entrepreneur in any respect.
The assaults had been already unhealthy earlier than this 12 months. Certainly, final June, France’s Inside Minister Bruno Retailleau promised crypto entrepreneurs that they might have a devoted emergency police line.
One suspected mastermind of a number of crypto kidnappings in France was arrested in Morocco final 12 months. They allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping and mutilation of Ledger co-founder David Balland.
Paris Blockchain Week rolls out police escorts
Regardless of the alarming rise in crypto-related assaults in France, the convention agency Chain of Occasions is internet hosting Paris Blockchain Week (PBW) on the Carrousel du Louvre.
PBW co-founder Charlie Meraoud instructed BFM, “We’ve doubled our security measures this year.” This included measures to move convention goers to a dinner utilizing buses guided by police escorts.
Was fairly wild to have a police escort via Paris final evening
They instructed all vehicles to get out of our approach because the buses steamrolled via
In all probability defending residents from our evil crypto methods pic.twitter.com/wVI7Lq01Ez
— Tim Copeland (@Timccopeland) April 15, 2026
The Block’s Head of Progress, Tim Copeland, driving in a bus escorted by police.
BFM stories that crypto founders are more and more using bodyguards and are selecting to maintain their private, monetary, and enterprise particulars on the down-low.
France’s Minister-Delegate to the Minister of the Inside, Jean-Didier Berger, opened the convention by reiterating France’s dedication to stamping out these crypto-related assaults.
In response to Berger and Chain of Occasions’ Chairman Michael Amar, France has enrolled 466 crypto business members onto “a priority emergency response platform” and arrested 230 folks since January by way of a newly established nationwide organised crime prosecution workplace.
Berger mentioned, “Cybercrime and organised crime are two worlds that are becoming increasingly porous. That is why we have reinforced our collaboration with platforms and with you. In France, there is freedom, there is stability, there is predictability. And that is why choosing France is always a good idea.”
Artem Sinyakin, CEO of the crypto analysis agency OAK Analysis, additionally warned on X, “Don’t wear your badge outside of the main venue. Don’t scream about crypto in the streets. Try and limit the crypto merch.”
“The wrench attacks in France have been a huge problem and you should take all the necessary precautions. Better safe than sorry,” he added.
