Three men posing as police officers forced a Versailles couple to transfer approximately $1 million in Bitcoin ($BTC) at knifepoint, in one of France’s most brazen crypto home invasions.
The attack targeted a man and woman in their late 50s at their home in the Le Chesnay district, according to sources close to Versailles police cited by TF1.
Why it matters:
Crypto holders face growing physical security risks as on-chain wealth becomes a direct target for organized criminal networks
France’s 40 documented crypto kidnapping cases since July 2023 signal a systemic threat, not isolated incidents
Attackers impersonating law enforcement signals a tactical shift that makes conventional home security insufficient
The details:
Assailants gained entry by posing as police officers; one pulled a knife and threatened to stab the woman unless $BTC was transferred
After the transfer was confirmed, attackers fled in a van, leaving the woman with a minor shoulder injury
The woman freed herself, untied her husband, then summoned a neighbor for help
No arrests have been made; suspects face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy
The Versailles prosecutor’s office reportedly confirmed the $BTC loss and assigned the case to France’s Banditry Repression Brigade, the judicial police unit handling organized crime.
The big picture:
French police recorded approximately 40 organized crypto kidnapping cases between July 2023 and late 2025, with overseas masterminds reportedly commissioning several attacks
Last month, Binance’s France chief survived a failed wrench attack in Val-de-Marne; a 74-year-old man in Isère was tortured by attackers targeting a crypto millionaire’s family
Security experts warn 2026 crypto violence could surpass 2025’s record levels
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