Hacking of the Waltio Crypto platform prompts French authorities to investigate

French authorities have opened a preliminary investigation into a data breach involving Waltio, a cryptocurrency tax reporting platform, after concerns were raised that hackers may have compromised users’ personal information.

In a notice published Thursday, French cybersecurity authorities said the Paris prosecutor’s office and the National Cyber ​​Unit were actively examining what data the hackers stole and which Waltio users were affected by the breach. Officials have warned that criminals could target exposed users by posing as security professionals to trick them into handing over their digital assets.

FRENCH CRYPTO TAX PLATFORM TARGETED IN EXTORTION ATTEMPT BY HACKER GROUP

The company Waltio filed a criminal complaint against the hacker group Shiny Hunters which claimed to have stolen the personal data linked to around 50,000 users, mainly in France, and issued a ransom… pic.twitter.com/ly0tw5QJiI

– Bitcoin News (@BitcoinNewsCom) January 23, 2026

The warning followed an article in a French newspaper The Parisianwho said a hacker group called Shiny Hunters claimed responsibility for the attack and demanded a ransom from Waltio. According to the report, hackers accessed the personal data of around 50,000 users, most of them based in France.

France investigates Waltio data breach as ‘key attack’ risks rise

French authorities have warned that a recent data leak could put crypto users at risk. As a result, exposed names, home addresses, and crypto asset details have made people easy targets for criminals. In response, attackers often contact victims or their family members directly and use threats to force the transfer of digital assets. This practice, commonly called “key attack”, relies on physical intimidation rather than computer hacking.

Meanwhile, officials confirmed that these attacks had already occurred in France and warned that affected Waltio users and their loved ones could face the same risks. Overall, the warning highlights growing security concerns as criminals increasingly focus on known crypto holders.

At the same time, the investigation comes as France steps up oversight of the crypto industry under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations. Under these rules, crypto companies must adhere to stricter licensing and transparency standards. As a result, French regulators ordered non-compliant companies to seek authorization or cease operations, with the deadline for compliance set at June 30.

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