France Ranks 99th in Global Peace Index, Crypto-Related Crime Surges

Unfortunate ranking. France is ranked 99th out of 163 countries in the 2026 edition of the Global Peace Index, with a score of 2.083. It is placed between Tanzania (98th) and Gabon (100th). Iceland remains in the lead for the 19th consecutive year.

This intermediate positioning reflects honorable overall stability according to the classic criteria of the index. However, the Global Peace Index does not take into account a recent and very targeted phenomenon: the sharp increase in kidnappings and extortion targeting cryptocurrency holders.

State services have already identified 77 cases of this type since January 2026, compared to 45 for the whole of 2025. The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife in January 2025 remains the most visible case.

The Institute for Economics & Peace publishes this composite index each year. It assesses the tranquility of 163 nations through 23 numerical indicators. These criteria are grouped into three pillars:

societal security,

ongoing conflicts,

the level of militarization.

The tool does not rely on subjective perceptions. It aggregates official statistics from international organizations and government databases. Detailed rankings and interactive mapping appear here.

The exact position of France in the 2026 ranking

With 2,083 points, France is in the low average of the table. This score reflects a balance between institutional stability and certain internal security challenges, those specific to our sector ultimately being only our visible part of the insecurity iceberg. Iceland, on the other hand, has dominated the rankings for almost two decades thanks to consistent performance across all indicators.

This rank does not indicate a breakdown of public order, so let’s not panic. However, he points out that other European nations obtain better overall results on the same objective criteria.

Marked increase in kidnappings and extortion in cryptocurrencies

State services have counted 77 cases of kidnapping, sequestration or extortion attempts linked to the crypto sector since January 2026. This volume already exceeds the 45 cases recorded over the entire year 2025.

The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife in January 2025 remains the most visible case. The attackers used physical violence to try to obtain the transfer of bitcoins. Other operations have targeted family members of managers of companies specializing in digital assets.

These crimes exploit a characteristic specific to cryptocurrencies: the possibility of moving large sums in a few minutes without going through traditional intermediaries. Victims are often chosen for their public exposure in the ecosystem.

Does measured peace capture cryptocurrencies?

The Global Peace Index offers a useful macroeconomic and societal snapshot. It does not specifically integrate the physical threats that accompany the rapid accumulation of wealth in dematerialized form.

France illustrates this gap. Its moderate score reflects relative overall stability. However, targeted crime, motivated by the holding of crypto assets, is clearly increasing. These facts do not reflect a general deterioration of peace, but an adaptation of criminal networks to new forms of heritage.

The 77 cases recorded since the start of the year confirm a lasting upward trend. The authorities have strengthened the monitoring of these cases within the judicial police. Players in the crypto sector, for their part, are increasing individual and family protection measures.