Three armed attackers posed as police officers to gain entry into a couple’s home in Le Chesnay, a suburb of Paris, forcing them to transfer approximately 900,000 euros worth of bitcoin.
A French couple was forced to transfer approximately $1 million (equivalent to around 900,000 euros) in bitcoin to armed attackers during a home invasion that took place Monday morning in Le Chesnay, a municipality in the western suburbs of Paris. Local authorities confirmed the incident, with the news corroborated by the Versailles Prosecutor’s Office and initially reported by French media outlet TF1 Info.
Three individuals gained entry into the residence by posing as police officers. Once inside, one of the suspects threatened the woman with a knife, ordering her partner to transfer bitcoins to an account controlled by the attackers. The man complied, sending the equivalent of approximately 900,000 euros in bitcoin. After the transfer was completed, the three assailants restrained the man by tying him up before fleeing in a white van.
The Versailles Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation on charges of kidnapping, armed robbery by an organized gang, and criminal conspiracy. No arrests have been announced at this time.
The incident is part of a growing series of physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders, a phenomenon known among security researchers as a “wrench attack”. According to data compiled by security researcher Jameson Lopp, approximately 70 physical attacks on crypto holders were recorded worldwide in 2025, the highest annual total in his decade of monitoring the phenomenon. Analysts believe the actual number is higher, as many cases go unreported or are classified as ordinary robberies.
France is one of the countries most affected by this trend. In February, three suspects were arrested following a failed break-in attempt at the home of David Princay, head of Binance France: masked attackers had searched two residences looking for the executive, eventually fleeing with several mobile phones. Earlier in 2025, France had already drawn international attention following the abduction of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, in which the kidnappers allegedly mutilated the victim while demanding a cryptocurrency ransom, before police managed to free the hostages.
