Crypto kidnappings: first convictions in Amiens as French justice cracks down

On February 23, 2026, the Amiens criminal court delivered a historic verdict: two men aged 19 and 24 were sentenced to nine and five years in prison respectively for holding a family hostage to extort cryptocurrency. This decision marks a major judicial turning point in the fight against this new form of criminality terrorizing the French crypto sector.

As France records over 40 cryptocurrency-related kidnappings since July 2023, this conviction sends a clear message: the justice system is now ready to strike hard against the perpetrators of such violence. For investors and industry professionals, it represents a first step toward criminal penalties commensurate with the threat.

The Revelles case: a night of terror on Halloween

The events unfolded on October 31, 2025, in the commune of Revelles, in the Somme department. That evening, three masked men broke into a family home. Their target: a father identified as a cryptocurrency holder.

An extremely violent scenario

The attackers held five people hostage: the couple, their two young children, and the grandmother. For several hours, they applied intense pressure on the father to obtain a fund transfer from his mobile phone.

The threats made were exceptionally violent. “I swear on Mecca, I will kill you, I will cut off your fingers,” said one of the assailants, according to statements reported by the court president. The father and grandmother were tied up and beaten repeatedly.

But against all odds, the victim managed to free himself from his bindings and fight off the attackers. Panicked, they fled by car, taking a stolen phone with them—a mistake that would lead to their arrest.

An investigation facilitated by the criminals’ mistake

The phone stolen from the family allowed investigators to locate two suspects in Melun, Seine-et-Marne, two months after the incident. The arrests took place in December 2025.

During their court appearance, the two defendants admitted to the facts and apologized. They claimed to have been recruited by a mysterious mastermind who transmitted instructions under threat. The third man, considered to be the mastermind’s trusted associate, is still being actively sought.

Exemplary sentences to mark a turning point

The Amiens criminal court handed down severe sentences: nine years in prison for the older defendant (24 years old) and five years for the younger one (19 years old). Both men will also have to pay €7,000 in compensation to each of the three adult victims for emotional damages.

Expected jurisprudence

This conviction is particularly significant as it constitutes one of the first firm sentences in France for a kidnapping motivated by crypto asset theft. Until now, a sense of impunity prevailed among criminals: with lengthy procedures, no high-profile conviction had yet occurred.

“Two kids were sent into the line of fire, they are not the masterminds of this operation,” attempted defense attorney Me Amel Bensaci. An argument that failed to convince the court, determined to send a strong signal.

The trauma of the victims

For the attacked family, the consequences are lasting. “The world is going mad and money drives people crazy, but nothing justifies your actions,” the mother declared in court. “You were puppets serving someone who doesn’t care about you at all.”

The trauma was so severe that the family was forced to put their house up for sale, living in constant fear of another attack. A testimony that illustrates the profound psychological impact of such violence on victims and their families.

40+ kidnappings: the scale of an expanding phenomenon

The Revelles case is unfortunately not an isolated incident. According to a note from SIRASCO (Police Judicial Analysis Service), France recorded over 40 kidnappings or hostage situations linked to cryptocurrency between July 2023 and late 2025. More than half directly targeted crypto holders or industry professionals.

Masterminds based abroad

Investigators have identified a recurring pattern: operations are often controlled by “masterminds” located outside France. These orchestrators work through local intermediaries who recruit young executors—usually under 30 years old, with backgrounds in violent crimes or trafficking.

This transnational organization considerably complicates investigations. Borders become protection for the orchestrators, while the executors, often “puppets” by their own admission, find themselves on the front line facing justice.

The role of social media in targeting

How do criminals identify their victims? Investigators point to social media. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: “lifestyle” content becomes inadvertent intelligence files. Habits, routes, social circles, and frequented locations of crypto investors are publicly accessible.

The typical victim profile: men aged 20 to 35, active in crypto, whether as investors, entrepreneurs, or influencers. Not necessarily the wealthiest, but the most exposed. In the attackers’ minds, exposure equals proof of wealth.

What this conviction changes for the future

The Amiens court’s decision could mark a turning point in the judicial handling of these cases. Several elements deserve highlighting.

Toward criminal court sentences?

The sentences handed down (9 and 5 years) correspond to criminal court penalties. However, the French Penal Code provides for much heavier sanctions for the most serious offenses: 20 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping, 30 years in cases of torture or barbaric acts.

Some prosecutors are now considering referring the most violent cases to the assize courts. This would be an even stronger signal, with potentially doubled sentences.

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Still insufficient deterrence?

Despite this first conviction, attacks continue. Since early 2026, at least six new cases have been recorded, including attempts targeting the CEO of Binance France and the kidnapping of a magistrate whose spouse works in crypto.

The problem remains structural: as long as the masterminds abroad are not worried, the flow of executors will not dry up. The Amiens convictions only affect the “foot soldiers” of a larger system.

Recommendations from authorities

Faced with this threat, crypto professionals are advised to adopt precautionary measures: discretion on social media, home security, diversification of digital asset storage locations. Police also recommend never giving in to ransom demands, as payments tend to encourage further attacks.

For potential victims, establishing a personal security unit—potentially including professional assistance—is becoming an option to seriously consider.

A judicial response under construction

The Amiens conviction is part of a broader context of growing awareness among authorities. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau declared himself “fully mobilized” against these networks, calling the executors “narco-thugs.” Police reinforcements have been deployed, and international cooperation is intensifying to trace back to the masterminds.

However, many cases remain under investigation. The 25 people charged in May 2025—including 18 placed in pre-trial detention and 6 minors—are still awaiting trial. The Amiens decision could serve as a reference for upcoming judgments.

In the meantime, vigilance remains essential for all participants in the French crypto ecosystem. Justice has shown it is ready to punish. The question remains whether this signal will be sufficient to stem the wave of violence that has struck the sector for two years.