𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁: 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀
David Prinçay, CEO of Binance France, recently became the target of a frightening early-morning home invasion, another reminder of the growing real-world risks tied to crypto wealth.
At approximately 7 a.m., three masked individuals forced their way into his apartment building. Reports indicate they initially entered the wrong unit, apparently searching for Prinçay’s residence. After locating the correct apartment, they discovered that Prinçay and his family were not present. Unable to confront their intended target, the attackers stole two mobile phones before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, Prinçay and his family were safe and unharmed.
Disturbingly, this incident is not an isolated event. France has experienced a troubling rise in crypto-related kidnappings and home invasions, signaling a shift from purely digital threats to physical violence.
One of the most shocking cases occurred in January 2025, when David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped from his home in Méreau.
The attackers demanded €10 million in cryptocurrency as ransom. To intensify pressure and demonstrate their seriousness, they severed one of Balland’s fingers. French authorities ultimately intervened and rescued him, but only after a portion of the ransom had already been paid.
This incident underscored a harsh reality: crypto wealth doesn’t just attract hackers operating behind screens, it also attracts organized criminals willing to use physical force. In the crypto world, this type of crime is commonly referred to as a “wrench attack,” where attackers bypass technical security entirely by targeting the individual directly.
Below, we’ve outlined several other high profile crypto kidnappings that took place across France between 2025 and 2026 👇🏻
