Fear is spreading across France in the face of an unprecedented surge in attacks against cryptocurrency holders since the beginning of the year. These concerns have been greatly exacerbated by the introduction of European tax surveillance DAC8, which could quickly make matters worse.
Are you afraid to declare your crypto capital gains today?
With the year having started just three weeks ago, there has been a very worrying escalation in the number of kidnappings and false imprisonments linked to cryptocurrencies, with the number of cases continuing to rise following what some experts describe as a change in strategy—and targets—by organized crime.
This is a reality that is being hit hard by the implementation of the European DAC8 directive, which came into effect on January 1. And for good reason, as it involves the collection of data—such as the identity and contact details of the investor, but also the volume, type, and value of transactions—involving crypto operations, in order to pass it on to the tax authorities.
The problem? The centralization of this sensitive information poses an obvious risk of data leaks or theft, particularly for the purpose of targeting the most profitable cryptocurrency holders to rob, or reselling this information on the dark web to criminals looking for victims to rob.
And this is not just a hypothesis, as a tax official is currently the subject of criminal proceedings for criminal conspiracy, after providing a mysterious sponsor with information on the identity of certain crypto investors.
This is a very worrying situation, prompting a legitimate question on our X account about how you intend to declare your crypto capital gains and/or take steps to minimize your potential exposure to this type of attack.
🇫🇷 Are you afraid to declare 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 objective was clear: to steal or…— Cryptoast (@CryptoastMedia) January 20, 2026
“We’re no longer just talking about taxes, but about protecting ourselves and our loved ones.”
The concern is palpable in your responses, to the point of fearing a possible shift in these attacks toward less wealthy cryptocurrency holders.
Indeed, according to some of you, it would be very optimistic to believe too quickly “that leaks and finger cuttings only concern potential millionaires, some of whom would kill for 10 or 15,000 euros,” or even less.
As a result, the issue of declaring capital gains on your tax return becomes, for some, a real “personal safety issue (…) not because of any ideological desire to commit fraud, but because of a very real fear of becoming a potential target.” This is all the more true without the certainty of knowing who will ultimately have access to this information.
I simply switched to a platform without KYC. We can’t just sit back and wait for the worst to happen. I’d rather be hassled by the tax authorities than lose a finger or put my family in danger.
However, it seems important to point out that “since the DAC8 directive at the beginning of this year, centralized platforms send all data to the French tax authorities, making it accessible to criminals, even without declaring capital gains,” with the associated promise of an explosion of controls…
Of course, this article does not seek to encourage people not to declare their crypto capital gains, but simply to highlight the concerns of their holders in the face of an increase in kidnappings and abductions linked to cryptocurrencies.
