According to CoinMeta, a couple in the southern French city of Alès was kidnapped by two armed intruders at their home and held hostage for two hours. The attackers demanded cryptocurrency transfers. Local media reported that the attack occurred on Saturday morning; the intruders, armed with pistols and knives, entered the couple's residence and threatened them. At the time of the incident, the couple's young child was also present in the house. Neighbors called the police after hearing screams, but by the time they arrived, the attackers had fled. The investigation has been taken over by the Organized Crime and Professional Crime Department in Nimes, and there have been no arrests yet. This incident comes at a time when French authorities are facing a series of kidnapping, robbery, and extortion cases targeting cryptocurrency holders and their relatives. By the end of June, France had recorded 77 cases related to cryptocurrencies, including kidnappings, illegal detentions, and extortion. In July, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that this number had surpassed the 45 cases recorded in 2025.