Rich by Coin

France has seen more than 20 crypto-targeted kidnappings since 2025, elevating fears across the Web3 community. NFT Paris cancellation cites market costs, but security risks loom as an unspoken backdrop. NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026 are cancelled. While NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026 were officially cancelled on January 5, citing a global crypto market collapse and unsustainable costs, the surge in crypto-related violence has added a troubling backdrop to the announcement.

Four attempted kidnappings alone occurred within four days in early January 2026, prompting urgent warnings from crypto industry figures. Police rescued a Swiss crypto professional in Valence and arrested multiple suspects in coordinated raids. The wave of kidnappings displays the vulnerabilities faced by crypto professionals in France and the ongoing challenges of safeguarding both personal security and digital assets. As authorities attempt to tighten protections and investigate criminal networks, the French Web3 sector faces a precarious environment where market pressures and physical threats intersect.

January 6, 2026: A woman was violently held and sequestered by attackers seeking her partner’s crypto assets at their home in Manosque, Alpes‑de‑Haute‑Provence. January 6, 2026: Manosque incident (crypto USB theft) — Another report describes a similar Manosque case where masked gunmen tied up a woman and stole a USB containing crypto keys. January 9, 2026: An engineer was kidnapped from his home (Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet, Maine-et-Loire). January 9, 2026: A cryptocurrency investor and his family were tied up and beaten at home (Verneuil-sur-Seine, Yvelines).

The alleged data leak has intensified concern about France’s reporting requirements for crypto holdings under anti-money laundering and tax regulations. Sponsors of the NFT Paris event have expressed frustration over non-refundable expenditures, with some facing significant financial losses amid the abrupt cancellation. Security experts advise using pseudonyms, limiting online exposure, and avoiding public disclosure of wallet information to reduce personal risk.