Fear is spreading across France amid an unprecedented surge in attacks against cryptocurrency holders since the start of the year. These concerns are greatly exacerbated by the implementation of the European DAC8 tax surveillance system, which could quickly make matters worse.
Are you afraid to report your crypto capital gains today?
Although the year began just three weeks ago, cases of kidnappings and abductions linked to cryptocurrencies are escalating at an alarming rate, with the number of incidents continuing to rise following what some experts describe as a shift in strategy—and targets—by organized crime.
This is a reality that the implementation of the European DAC8 directive, effective since January 1, is facing head-on. And for good reason: it requires the collection of data—such as the investor’s identity and contact information, as well as the volume, type, and value of transactions—involving crypto operations, in order to transmit this information to tax authorities.
The problem? Centralizing this sensitive information poses a clear risk of data leaks or theft, particularly with the aim of targeting the most lucrative cryptocurrency holders to rob, or reselling this information on the dark web to criminals seeking victims to fleece.
And this is not merely a hypothesis, as a tax official is currently facing criminal charges for conspiracy to commit a crime after providing a mysterious client with the identities of certain crypto investors.
This is a very alarming situation, prompting a legitimate question on our X account: how do you plan to report your crypto capital gains and/or take steps to minimize your potential exposure to this type of attack?
Are you afraid to report your crypto capital gains today?
In recent months, several cases of kidnapping and false imprisonment targeting individuals (or their relatives) with significant crypto assets have made headlines.
The goal was clear: to steal or…— Cryptoast (@CryptoastMedia) January 20, 2026
“We’re no longer just talking about taxes, but about personal protection and that of our loved ones”
The concern is palpable in your responses, to the point of fearing a possible shift of these attacks toward less wealthy cryptocurrency holders.
Indeed, according to some of you, it would be overly optimistic to believe too quickly “that leaks and finger-cutting only concern potential millionaires; some would kill for 10,000 or 15,000 euros,” or even less.
As a result, the issue of reporting capital gains on tax returns has become, for some, a genuine “personal safety issue (…) not out of a desire for ideological fraud, but out of a very real fear of becoming a potential target.” All the more so without the certainty of knowing who will ultimately have access to that information.
I simply switched to a platform without KYC. We can’t just sit idly by and wait for the worst to happen. I’d rather deal with the tax authorities than lose a finger or have my family in danger.
However, it seems important to note that “since the DAC8 directive took effect earlier this year, centralized platforms have been sending all data to the French tax authorities, thereby making it accessible to criminals, even without reporting capital gains,” along with the associated promise of a surge in audits…
Of course, this article does not seek to encourage the non-reporting of crypto capital gains; it simply aims to highlight the concerns of crypto holders regarding the rise in kidnapping and false imprisonment cases linked to cryptocurrencies.
