French authorities have arrested around 20 individuals in connection with a wave of kidnappings and attempted abductions targeting cryptocurrency industry figures and their families, according to French media reports.

The arrests were carried out over two days, with a dozen suspects detained on Monday in the town of Couëron, near Nantes, and at least six more taken into custody on Tuesday. The crackdown follows a shocking attempted kidnapping in Paris earlier this month that brought the issue into sharp focus.

On May 13, attackers targeted the pregnant daughter of Pierre Noizat, a prominent figure in France’s crypto sector. She was walking with her partner and child when the assailants tried to force her into a vehicle in broad daylight. The failed abduction, captured on surveillance cameras, sent shockwaves through the country and prompted swift action from authorities.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau responded to the escalating threat by convening an emergency meeting with leaders from the cryptocurrency industry in mid-May. During the session, he pledged stronger protection measures, including the provision of direct emergency contact channels for those at risk.

“These serial kidnappings will be combated with specific tools, both immediate and short-term, to prevent, deter, and hinder in order to protect the industry,” Retailleau said following the meeting. “The entire state apparatus is fully mobilised to track down the perpetrators and instigators of this violence and put them out of action.”

While details on the suspects remain limited, investigators believe the network behind the attempted kidnappings may have been operating in an organized manner, potentially targeting crypto leaders due to the high-value assets they often control.

The arrests signal a determined effort by French authorities to crack down on criminal activity linked to the booming digital finance sector. As the crypto industry continues to grow, concerns have also risen over the risks its leaders face — particularly in relation to physical security and extortion.

Police continue to investigate whether the incidents were coordinated or part of a broader trend of financially motivated attacks. Officials have not ruled out further arrests as inquiries progress.

The French government’s heightened focus on protecting cryptocurrency professionals comes amid growing recognition of the sector’s economic significance — and its vulnerability to criminal exploitation.

Belgium has officially repealed its 2003 nuclear phase-out law, signaling a decisive shift in national energy strategy and aligning with a broader European reassessment of nuclear power’s role in addressing energy security and climate goals.

On May 15, the Belgian Parliament voted to scrap the legislation that required a gradual shutdown of the country’s nuclear reactors. The repeal opens the door for reviving the domestic nuclear industry and possibly constructing new power stations in the future.

The decision reflects a strategic pivot by the conservative-led government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever, which came to power in February amid growing energy concerns. Initially set to close all seven of its reactors by 2025, Belgium had already delayed this plan by a decade following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — an event that exposed the fragility of energy supply chains across Europe.

Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet underscored the move’s significance, stating, “We know that [nuclear] is a low-carbon energy source, which means we can meet our European climate targets. It is also abundant and offers stability in supply and pricing.”

Belgium joins a growing list of EU member states reconsidering or reversing their anti-nuclear policies. Countries like Germany, Denmark, and Italy — once strong opponents of nuclear energy — are now reassessing their stances in light of geopolitical uncertainties, gas dependency, and the need to meet decarbonization targets.

Germany, which closed its last three nuclear plants in April 2023, has softened its opposition. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during his campaign earlier this year, hinted at revisiting nuclear energy as a viable option. While a full reversal remains unlikely, Berlin recently signaled willingness to treat nuclear power on par with renewables in EU energy legislation.

Elsewhere, Italy plans to reintroduce nuclear power by 2030, Poland is building its first plant with reactors expected by 2033, and Sweden has passed new legislation to finance next-generation reactors. Even Denmark, long known for its renewables leadership, is reviewing its four-decade-old ban on nuclear energy.

Energy experts, such as Adel El Gammal of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, stress that while extending existing facilities is a practical short-term strategy, building new nuclear capacity remains costly and time-intensive. Nonetheless, El Gammal emphasized that nuclear and renewables are not mutually exclusive: “Both can and should work together.”

Belgium’s move is part of a growing consensus across Europe that energy security, affordability, and decarbonization may require a diversified and pragmatic approach — with nuclear energy firmly back on the table.