Cryptocurrencies: A Family Wrongly Kidnapped and Assaulted Near Rennes

A family assaulted instead of a cryptocurrency holder. On August 22, 2026, several individuals broke into a house located in Vern-sur-Seiche, south of Rennes, before kidnapping and assaulting its occupants. However, the people present were not the ones being sought: the suspects were targeting the owner of the residence, known for holding digital assets, according to Ouest-France. After realizing their mistake and finding their target absent, the assailants fled. An investigation has been opened and assigned to the Rennes Research Section.

Key points of this article:

• Individuals kidnapped and assaulted tenants in Vern-sur-Seiche to extort cryptocurrencies, mistakenly targeting an absent owner.
• France has been particularly affected by brutal attacks aimed at recovering cryptocurrency recovery phrases.

The events took place in an isolated dwelling in the center of Vern-sur-Seiche, a municipality of about 8,000 inhabitants located in Ille-et-Vilaine. A group of individuals entered the home and attacked the tenants present.

The victims were kidnapped and assaulted before their attackers realized they had targeted the wrong family. Their true target was reportedly the owner of the premises, who was absent at the time of the attack, and whom they intended to rob of cryptocurrencies.

The suspects ultimately left the residence without having found the man they were looking for. The tenants were later taken care of by emergency services. According to Ouest-France, they remain deeply traumatized by this assault.

The public prosecutor of Rennes, Frédéric Teillet, confirmed the facts as well as the targeting error. However, he did not provide further information to avoid compromising the investigations. No details have been disclosed regarding the number of assailants, their specific modus operandi, or any demands made during the kidnapping.

This case illustrates the increase in physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency holders or their relatives. As of April 23, 2026, the National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office had recorded 135 kidnappings or attempted kidnappings related to digital assets in France since 2023.

The phenomenon is based on a peculiarity of cryptocurrencies: when a person directly controls their wallet, physical coercion can allow assailants to obtain their access codes or force them to make a transfer. Relatives and individuals occupying an address associated with the target can also be taken as leverage.

Brittany had until then been relatively spared. On April 20, however, five members of the same family were kidnapped in Ploudalmézeau, north of Brest. The assailants were again searching for a man active in the cryptocurrency sector, who was absent at the time of the events. A digital wallet was then stolen.

In Vern-sur-Seiche, the mistake made by the suspects also highlights the risks associated with inaccurate or outdated personal information. A simple address associated with a cryptocurrency holder can expose occupants who have no connection to their activities.

The Rennes Research Section must now identify the perpetrators and determine how they obtained the owner's address. The investigation will also need to establish whether the group was preparing a targeted theft, a ransom demand, or a forced transfer of cryptocurrencies. Another day in France, another day in crypto.

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