An armed group broke into a house in Rion-des-Landes, southwestern France, at exactly four in the morning. The gang’s target was not jewelry or a safe of valuables, but the Bitcoin holdings of a couple residing in the home.
Immediately after entering, the perpetrators bound and held the two victims captive. They attempted to force the couple to hand over the access keys to their Bitcoin and other crypto assets in large amounts. When the initial extortion phase inside the house failed to yield results, the kidnappers separated the two victims and moved them to different locations.
Found Naked 20 Kilometers Away
The fate of the two victims gradually came to light when the male victim was found naked and injured in the Solférino area. The discovery point was 20 kilometers away from the initial kidnapping site in Rion-des-Landes. Meanwhile, local police found the female victim abandoned inside a car in another department.
In response to the kidnapping incident, French police launched a large-scale manhunt. The ground pursuit resulted in the arrest of two men who are now suspects. Both have been detained and are behind bars at a Bordeaux police facility to face investigation.
Shift in Tactics Targets Crypto Holders
The case in Rion-des-Landes adds to the evidence of a shift in criminal tactics targeting digital asset owners. French Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez revealed that law enforcement has handled 77 crypto-motivated kidnapping and extortion cases in France throughout 2026. This crime figure represents a sharp spike from the 45 cases recorded in 2025.
This real-world threat aligns with global trends. An analytical report from Chainalysis shows that criminals seized more than $30 million from crypto owners worldwide. These multi-million dollar funds changed hands in the first half of 2026 alone through physical attacks. Criminals have identified a core weakness: penetrating the security fortress of a blockchain might be impossible, but breaking the physical security of its owner is proven to be much easier.
Reported from crypto.news.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
