French prosecutors confirmed charges against suspects after elite forces rescued a Swiss hostage in Valence, underscoring France’s growing role as a global hotspot for violent crypto crimes.
French authorities rescued a 20-year-old Swiss man on August 31 near Valence-TGV station after he was kidnapped and held for several days with ransom demands in cryptocurrency. Nearly 150 law enforcement officers, including GIGN forces, arrested seven suspects tied to the organized gang. Prosecutors in Lyon confirmed charges of kidnapping, extortion with weapons, and criminal conspiracy, with the suspects facing pre-trial detention. The case highlights a disturbing trend, as France has already documented at least 10 crypto kidnapping cases in 2025, nearly one-third of global “wrench attacks.” High-profile incidents, including the abduction of Ledger co-founder David Balland, have made France a focal point of violent crypto crime.