Crypto-Targeted Kidnappings in France Overshadow NFT Paris Cancellation

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.

France has reported over 20 kidnappings and violent attacks targeting crypto professionals and their families since January 2025. This has created an atmosphere of fear across the country’s Web3 community.

Wave of Violence Targets French Crypto Community

Four attempted kidnappings alone occurred within four days in early January 2026, prompting urgent warnings from crypto industry figures.

It has also raised questions about the safety of digital asset holders in France, with recent incidents reportedly involving:

• 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).

Sponsors of the NFT Paris event have expressed frustration over non-refundable expenditures, with some facing significant financial losses amid the abrupt cancellation.

“The real reason why NFT Paris was cancelled,” stated art market analyst Arthemort.

The art market analyst highlighted some of the previous crypto-related kidnapping cases BeInCrypto has reported in the past, citing a disturbing timeline of incidents spanning more than a year.

French authorities have occasionally foiled kidnapping attempts. Police rescued a Swiss crypto professional in Valence and arrested multiple suspects in coordinated raids.

Despite these successes, many attackers remain at large, highlighting the persistent security challenges facing the country’s crypto sector.

Industry insider Farokh warned that government employees may have shared taxpayer data with criminal “sponsors,” directly linking tax filings to the targeting of crypto holders.

“We’re now at 4 kidnapping attempts in 4 days in France after finding out a government employee was giving ‘sponsors’ information on crypto tax payers. If you’re in crypto and file your taxes + live in France, please be careful,” wrote Farokh.

The alleged data leak has intensified concern about France’s reporting requirements for crypto holdings under anti-money laundering and tax regulations.

Security experts advise using pseudonyms, limiting online exposure, and avoiding public disclosure of wallet information to reduce personal risk.

NFT Paris Cancellation Highlights Industry Challenges

NFT Paris organizers cited market collapse and high costs as reasons for cancelling the January 2026 event, promising refunds for all tickets.

Sponsors expressed frustration over non-refundable expenses, highlighting the financial strain of abrupt cancellations.

“As a sponsor, I got the mail as well, mentioning: “As per Article 12 of our agreement, the non-refundable costs incurred for the event exceed the total sponsorship contributions received, so we are unfortunately unable to offer a refund at this time.” Looking forward to chat about this, just texted on Telegram to the number you mentioned in the mail,” wrote one user.

While economic factors were emphasized publicly, insiders note that the growing security crisis within the crypto community likely contributed to the decision to cancel.

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.

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