French Government Tackles Rising Crypto Safety Concerns

By: crypto insight|2026/04/17 19:00:02

Key Takeaways:

France is intensifying measures to counter the surge in crypto kidnappings and wrench attacks.
Since early 2026, 41 crypto-related kidnappings have been recorded in the country.
Cybersecurity firm CertiK reports a global 75% increase in wrench attacks in 2025.
Authorities are working to implement a comprehensive security plan soon.
French police successfully handled a recent crypto ransom case in Burgundy.

WEEX Crypto News, 2026-04-17 07:09:02

France’s Strategic Response to Crypto Security Threats

France is addressing a worrisome increase in crimes targeting cryptocurrency investors—specifically, wrench attacks and kidnappings. Jean-Didier Berger, the minister delegate to France’s interior ministry, announced during Paris Blockchain Week that new plans are underway to enhance protection for crypto holders. The urgency escalates amid reports of recurring kidnappings tied to demands for digital assets, highlighting the need for robust security protocols.

The government has already launched an online prevention platform aimed at educating and mobilizing the crypto community, and it’s seeing significant engagement with thousands of sign-ups. Yet, Berger disclosed plans for more extensive measures developed in collaboration with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to be introduced soon.

Surge in Crypto-Related Crimes

France’s grappling with a troubling rate of crypto-related crimes, with 41 incidents of abductions reported so far in 2026, rendering an alarming frequency of one every 2.5 days. These incidents underscore France as a focal point for wrench attacks—where victims are coerced into ceding their digital assets under threat or assault. Adding to these worrying trends was a recent kidnapping in Burgundy, involving ransom demands totaling 400,000 euros ($471,000), a drama that played out favorably for law enforcement with successful arrests and the safe release of hostages.

Global and Local Perspectives

The situation in France reflects a broader global increase in such crimes. Cybersecurity platform CertiK notes a 75% rise in wrench attacks worldwide in 2025, with France accounting for 19 of these cases, the highest in Europe. More startling examples include a sophisticated heist where a couple was deceived by criminals masquerading as police officers, losing $1 million in btc-42">Bitcoin.

This growing wave of crypto-targeted crimes is pushing governments and security agencies globally to rethink their strategies. In Europe, which accounts for approximately 40% of all wrench attacks worldwide, the pressure mounts on authorities to formulate effective deterrence and rapid response plans.

-- Price

Navigating Future Challenges and Solutions

The French government’s dual approach, combining preventative education and stringent enforcement plans, is seen as a crucial step forward. Insights from industry stakeholders, combined with advances in cybersecurity, are expected to shape these forthcoming strategies. However, the challenges remain significant. As the blockchain landscape evolves, so too will the tactics of those looking to exploit it.

In responding to these security breaches, technology advancements such as blockchain’s immutable ledgers and smart contracts could offer part of the solution. Yet, it’s clear that a collective effort involving both authorities and the cryptocurrency community is essential for forging a safer digital economy. The current trajectory in France will be a critical case study for global policymakers and stakeholders aiming to establish more resilient crypto ecosystems.

FAQ

What are wrench attacks in the context of cryptocurrency?

Wrench attacks are criminal acts where victims are threatened or assaulted to force them into transferring their digital assets.

Why is France experiencing a rise in crypto-related crimes?

France’s prominence as a center for blockchain activity makes it a target for criminals seeking to exploit crypto vulnerabilities.

What measures is France implementing to counter these threats?

The French government is working on more comprehensive security measures, including prevention platforms and stricter enforcement plans to safeguard crypto investors.

How effective are these new measures expected to be?

These initiatives, while still in development, are expected to reduce the frequency and success of such attacks through increased awareness and stronger deterrent protocols.

What role does the crypto community play in these preventive efforts?

The community’s engagement in preventive education and reporting suspicious activities is crucial for enhancing overall security measures and fostering trust.

The privacy-focused crypto wallet Mixin announced today the launch of its U-based perpetual contract (a derivative priced in USDT). Unlike traditional exchanges, Mixin has taken a new approach by "liberating" derivative trading from isolated matching engines and embedding it into the instant messaging environment.

Users can directly open positions within the app with leverage of up to 200x, while sharing positions, discussing strategies, and copy trading within private communities. Trading, social interaction, and asset management are integrated into the same interface.

Simplified Trading Experience: No KYC Required, Opening a Position in Five Steps

Based on its non-custodial architecture, Mixin has eliminated friction from the traditional onboarding process, allowing users to participate in perpetual contract trading without identity verification.

The trading process has been streamlined into five steps:

· Choose the trading asset

· Select long or short

· Input position size and leverage

· Confirm order details

· Confirm and open the position

The interface provides real-time visualization of price, position, and profit and loss (PnL), allowing users to complete trades without switching between multiple modules.

Social-Native Trading: Strategy and Execution Completed in the Same Context

Mixin has directly integrated social features into the derivative trading environment. Users can create private trading communities and interact around real-time positions:

· End-to-end encrypted private groups supporting up to 1024 members

· End-to-end encrypted voice communication

· One-click position sharing

· One-click trade copying

On the execution side, Mixin aggregates liquidity from multiple sources and accesses decentralized protocol and external market liquidity through a unified trading interface.

By combining social interaction with trade execution, Mixin enables users to collaborate, share, and execute trading strategies instantly within the same environment.

Referral Mechanism: Non-institutional users can receive up to 60% fee split

Mixin has also introduced a referral incentive system based on trading behavior:

· Users can join with an invite code

· Up to 60% of trading fees as referral rewards

· Incentive mechanism designed for long-term, sustainable earnings

This model aims to drive user-driven network expansion and organic growth.

Self-Custody Architecture and Built-in Privacy Mechanism

Mixin's derivative transactions are built on top of its existing self-custody wallet infrastructure, with core features including:

· Separation of transaction account and asset storage

· User full control over assets

· Platform does not custody user funds

· Built-in privacy mechanisms to reduce data exposure

The system aims to strike a balance between transaction efficiency, asset security, and privacy protection.

A New Path for On-Chain Derivatives

Against the background of perpetual contracts becoming a mainstream trading tool, Mixin is exploring a different development direction by lowering barriers, enhancing social and privacy attributes.

The platform does not only view transactions as execution actions but positions them as a networked activity: transactions have social attributes, strategies can be shared, and relationships between individuals also become part of the financial system.

Regulatory Background

Mixin's design is based on a user-initiated, user-controlled model. The platform neither custodies assets nor executes transactions on behalf of users.

This model aligns with a statement issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 13, 2026, titled "Staff Statement on Whether Partial User Interface Used in Preparing Cryptocurrency Securities Transactions May Require Broker-Dealer Registration."

The statement indicates that, under the premise where transactions are entirely initiated and controlled by users, non-custodial service providers that offer neutral interfaces may not need to register as broker-dealers or exchanges.

About Mixin

Mixin is a decentralized, self-custodial privacy wallet designed to provide secure and efficient digital asset management services.

Its core capabilities include:

· Aggregation: integrating multi-chain assets and routing between different transaction paths to simplify user operations

· High liquidity access: connecting to various liquidity sources, including decentralized protocols and external markets

· Decentralization: achieving full user control over assets without relying on custodial intermediaries

· Privacy protection: safeguarding assets and data through MPC, CryptoNote, and end-to-end encrypted communication

Mixin has been in operation for over 8 years, supporting over 40 blockchains and more than 10,000 assets, with a global user base exceeding 10 million and an on-chain self-custodied asset scale of over $1 billion.

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