Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, claimed that a wave of kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders in France is linked to data leaks and the exposure of personal information.
In a public statement, Durov said that 41 kidnappings involving crypto holders had been recorded in France during the first three and a half months of 2026.
He alleged that criminals were able to identify victims through leaked databases and claimed that French tax officials had sold information about cryptocurrency owners, alongside what he described as major tax database breaches.
“More data means more leaks, more victims,” Durov said, criticizing efforts by the French state to require identification and access to private messages of social media users.
He argued that expanding state access to personal data increases security risks for citizens rather than protecting them.
Durov said Telegram would rather leave the French market than provide authorities with access to users’ private messages, framing the issue as a matter of privacy and digital rights.
The statement comes amid growing concern in Europe over attacks targeting wealthy cryptocurrency investors, including kidnappings and extortion attempts linked to digital asset ownership.
French authorities have not publicly responded to Durov’s allegations regarding tax officials or the claimed sale of user data.
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