NFT Paris 2026 Cancelled: ‘Market Collapse’ Cited, but Violent ‘Wrench Attacks’ Loom Large

NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026 are dead. Organizers officially cancelled the February 5-6 events today, citing a "market collapse" and unsustainable costs. But while the press release blames the charts, the cancellation inadvertently shields attendees from a more visceral threat: Paris has become a global hotspot for physical crypto violence.

The Official Line: Insolvency

The organizers posted a blunt assessment on X, noting that despite "drastic cost cuts," the event was mathematically impossible. With NFT trading volumes down 95% from 2021 peaks, the liquidity that fueled previous years has evaporated.

The financial fallout is messy. While ticket holders are promised refunds within 15 days, sponsors are being left out in the cold. One sponsor, the artist ‘Serc,’ shared correspondence citing "Article 12" of their agreement: "Non-refundable costs incurred… exceed the total sponsorship contributions." In short: the money is gone.

The Unspoken Reality: The ‘Wrench Attack’ Epidemic

The cancellation occurs against a backdrop of targeted violence in France. The region has recorded 18 violent physical attacks on crypto holders recently. These are not smart contract exploits; they are "wrench attacks", home invasions where victims are tortured until they surrender private keys.

Just last month in Charente-Maritime (Dompierre-sur-Mer), three masked men broke into a couple’s home at dawn, holding them hostage and beating them to force a transfer of over €9 million. Similar brutality hit Val-d’Oise in late 2025.

This trend aligns with data from the Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report, which flags a sharp rise in "physical coercion attacks." As on-chain security improves, criminals are bypassing the blockchain entirely to hack the human layer. Documented physical attacks globally have surpassed 215 since 2020, with 2025 nearly doubling the previous year’s tally.

The Wealth Paradox

A disturbing disconnect defines the current market. Bitcoin is resilient at $90,500, yet the NFT sector is insolvent, and individual holders are being hunted. Paris Blockchain Week is still scheduled for April, highlighting a split in the industry: institutional events with private security details proceed, while retail-focused gatherings crumble under financial and physical risk.

For the would-be attendees of NFT Paris, the cancellation is a financial disappointment. Given the security climate in the suburbs of Paris, it might also be a lucky break.