French Authorities Investigate Waltio Breach Amid Crypto Kidnapping Warnings

Data Breach at Waltio Crypto Tax Platform

French authorities are investigating a data breach at the crypto tax platform, Waltio. This follows reported kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders in January 2026.

The Paris Public Prosecutor's cybercrime unit has commenced an investigation into the breach, managed by France’s National Cyber Unit.
Waltio confirmed that only user email addresses and summary information from 2024 tax reports were exposed. Passwords, wallet addresses, and banking data remain secure.
A criminal complaint for attempted extortion and unauthorized system access was filed by Waltio CEO Pierre Morizot on January 23, 2026.

Physical Threats Warning

The French government warns of criminals posing as law enforcement officials to exploit breach victims.
Authorities emphasize that police will not request confidential data or make unannounced visits related to data breaches.
Incidents include a kidnapped couple in Sallanches and an attempted kidnapping in Paris.

Incident Timeline

Brinztech reported a Waltio database listing on the dark web on December 24, 2025, which allegedly contained user names and phone numbers.
Waltio claims it does not collect such data and learned of the breach via the extortion attempt on January 21, 2026.

Investigations continue to clarify the nature of the stolen data and those affected.