French prosecutors investigate Waltio crypto tax platform hack, assessing data exposure risks, phishing threats, and broader security concerns for users.
French authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into a data breach at cryptocurrency tax platform Waltio. The incident could have revealed personal user information. As a result, prosecutors are evaluating the potential risk of affected crypto holders throughout France.
French Authorities Open Cybercrime Investigation Into Waltio
An inquiry by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office was confirmed on Thursday. In addition, France’s National Cyber Unit is taking the lead on technical investigations. Authorities want to see what stolen data and to reveal which Waltio user was affected.
According to the investigators, the breach was an attempted extortion of the company. Waltio said he received the demand for extortion on January 21, 2026. Subsequently this firm filed a criminal complaint with French authorities.
There are reports that the hacked data was circulating earlier. Investigators believe that stolen information was posted on dark web forums around December 24, 2025. Therefore, the authorities are considering the timeline of the breach carefully.
The hacker group called Shiny Hunters has claimed the responsibility. The group claimed access to data that was associated with around 50,000 users. French prosecutors are now trying to confirm these claims by means of a forensic analysis.
Waltio CEO Pierre Morizot gave some information about the exposure. Hackers were able to access user email addresses and summary tax information, it was reported. Specifically, information pertaining to gains and losses from 2024 tax reports.
However, the key financial information was kept safe. Passwords, wallet addresses, exchanges login and bank information do not suffer. As a result, no direct theft of assets has been seen so far.
Nevertheless, warnings for users were issued by the authorities. They warned that criminals might use stolen information to perpetrate targeted scams. Such attempts may seem legitimate because of contextual knowledge.
French cybersecurity officials discussed mounting dangers. In recent times, physical crimes targeting holders of crypto have been on the rise in the country. These incidents consist of home invasions and kidnapping attempts.
User Warnings and Broader Crypto Security Concerns
Officials emphasized that phishing remains the greatest threat. Criminals may spoof Waltio or tax authorities. They could try to force the user to relocate digital assets.
Therefore authorities recommended increased vigilance. Users should not trust unsolicited messages about crypto taxes or security issues. An urgent request involving assets should be a cause for suspicion.
Waltio has also provided guidelines to customers. The company urged users to carefully verify official communications. Every legitimate email has a security code on the bottom.
Users can match this code to one that is displayed inside their account profile. This process assists in the verification of the authenticity of the message. Waltio stressed that it will never ask sensitive credentials through email.
Meanwhile, the investigation is ongoing, under the framework of France’s cybercrime. The National Cyber Unit is investigating digital traces associated with the breach. Prosecutors will make their decision regarding possible criminal charges based on findings.
This case represents larger issues that crypto platforms face. As adoption increases, tax and compliance services contain valuable user data. Consequently, they have become attractive targets for cyber criminals.
French regulators keep upucing the oversight They urge crypto users to follow good security measures. Regular monitoring and skepticism toward unexpected requests is so important.
As prosecutors continue their investigation, more updates are expected. The result of it could affect what cybersecurity standards crypto service providers are held to in the future. Ultimately, the case highlights the importance of user trust in digital finance.