French Family Held Hostage Over €40,000 Crypto Transfer Demand

A family of four in northern France was held hostage by four hooded men who broke into their home on September 20. The attackers targeted the father, an IT specialist working in the cryptocurrency sector, demanding that he transfer €40,000 in digital assets.

The intruders bound both parents and their two children, aged 8 and 12, with black tape before forcing the father to comply. His 12-year-old daughter was struck in the face with a car key during the ordeal.

After more than three hours, the attackers fled, leaving the family shaken but free from physical harm. The police have launched an investigation into the incident, which is part of a growing trend of violent crypto-related crimes in France.