A couple became victims of a violent kidnapping inside their own home in France after three masked assailants broke in during the early morning hours and demanded the transfer of €8 million in cryptocurrencies, according to local media reports.
The attackers tied up and threatened the victims, forcing the man, who works in the cryptocurrency sector, to transfer large sums of digital assets to wallets controlled by the criminals. During the assault, the businessman was beaten and later hospitalized, although his life is not in danger.
Authorities say the case is part of a growing wave of crimes linked to the rise of cryptocurrencies, a market that has increasingly attracted organized criminal groups due to the high value of digital assets and their relative difficulty to trace. Police have launched an investigation and are coordinating efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.
Why are crimes involving cryptocurrencies on the rise?
Experts explain that the high value and limited traceability of digital currencies make them an attractive target for criminals, prompting governments and platforms to strengthen security and oversight measures.