Crypto-Targeted Kidnappings in France Overshadow NFT Paris Cancellation
While NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026 have been formally cancelled on January 5, citing a world crypto market collapse and unsustainable prices, the surge in crypto-related violence has added a troubling backdrop to the announcement.
France has reported over 20 kidnappings and violent assaults focusing on crypto professionals and their households since January 2025. This has created an environment of concern throughout the nation’s Web3 neighborhood.
Wave of Violence Targets French Crypto Community
Four tried kidnappings alone occurred inside 4 days in early January 2026, prompting pressing warnings from crypto business figures.
It has additionally raised questions about the safety of digital asset holders in France, with current incidents reportedly involving:
- January 6, 2026: A girl was violently held and sequestered by attackers in search of her accomplice’s crypto belongings at their house in Manosque, Alpes‑de‑Haute‑Provence.
- January 6, 2026: Manosque incident (crypto USB theft) — Another report describes an identical Manosque case the place masked gunmen tied up a girl and stole a USB containing crypto keys.
- January 9, 2026: An engineer was kidnapped from his house (Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet, Maine-et-Loire).
- January 9, 2026: A cryptocurrency investor and his household have been tied up and overwhelmed at house (Verneuil-sur-Seine, Yvelines).
Sponsors of the NFT Paris occasion have expressed frustration over non-refundable expenditures, with some going through vital monetary losses amid the abrupt cancellation.
“The actual cause why NFT Paris was cancelled,” stated artwork market analyst Arthemort.
The artwork market analyst highlighted a number of the previous crypto-related kidnapping cases BeInCrypto has reported in the previous, citing a disturbing timeline of incidents spanning greater than a 12 months.
French authorities have occasionally foiled kidnapping attempts. Police rescued a Swiss crypto skilled in Valence and arrested a number of suspects in coordinated raids.
Despite these successes, many attackers stay at massive, highlighting the persistent safety challenges going through the nation’s crypto sector.
Industry insider Farokh warned that authorities staff could have shared taxpayer information with prison “sponsors,” immediately linking tax filings to the focusing on of crypto holders.
“We’re now at 4 kidnapping makes an attempt in 4 days in France after discovering out a authorities worker was giving ‘sponsors’ data on crypto tax payers. If you’re in crypto and file your taxes + stay in France, please watch out,” wrote Farokh.
The alleged information leak has intensified concern about France’s reporting necessities for crypto holdings beneath anti-money laundering and tax laws.
Security specialists advise using pseudonyms, limiting on-line publicity, and avoiding public disclosure of pockets data to scale back private danger.
NFT Paris Cancellation Highlights Industry Challenges
NFT Paris organizers cited market collapse and high prices as causes for cancelling the January 2026 occasion, promising refunds for all tickets.
Sponsors expressed frustration over non-refundable bills, highlighting the monetary pressure of abrupt cancellations.
“As a sponsor, I bought the mail as nicely, mentioning: “As per Article 12 of our settlement, the non-refundable prices incurred for the occasion exceed the full sponsorship contributions obtained, so we’re sadly unable to supply a refund presently.” Looking ahead to talk about this, simply texted on Telegram to the quantity you talked about in the mail,” wrote one person.
While financial components have been emphasised publicly, insiders word that the rising safety disaster inside the crypto neighborhood doubtless contributed to the choice to cancel.
The wave of kidnappings shows the vulnerabilities confronted by crypto professionals in France and the continuing challenges of safeguarding each private safety and digital belongings.
As authorities try to tighten protections and examine prison networks, the French Web3 sector faces a precarious environment the place market pressures and bodily threats intersect.
The publish Crypto-Targeted Kidnappings in France Overshadow NFT Paris Cancellation appeared first on BeInCrypto.
