France's Tax Authority Breach Puts Crypto Investors in Crosshairs
Crypto investors in France may face increased risk of physical attacks and kidnappings following a data breach at the French tax authority. The breach exposed personal data of over 678,000 users, with around 28,000 earning more than €100,000 per year.
Security analyst Jameson Lopp noted that 400 individuals have incomes exceeding €1 million annually, making them potential targets for wrench attacks. According to Lopp, France is a leading country for such attacks, and the breach could exacerbate the risk.
The term 'wrench attack' refers to violent physical assaults on crypto investors, often involving home invasions or kidnappings. Perpetrators typically demand cryptocurrency as ransom in exchange for the victims' release.
Last year, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped alongside his wife and held for €10 million in ransom. Although they were eventually rescued, such incidents highlight the growing threat posed by wrench attacks.
France leads the list with 36 violent attack incidents this year, according to Chainalysis data, followed by the United States and Brazil. The success rate of these crimes has dropped to 26% in 2026, but the recent tax authority breach may reverse this trend.