A French couple in their late 50s was robbed of nearly one million euros in Bitcoin after three armed men forced their way into their home in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, a quiet suburb near Versailles, in a calculated act of physical extortion that is becoming disturbingly routine in France.
Key Takeaways
- Three masked men posing as police officers forced a French couple to transfer ~€900,000 in Bitcoin under knife threat
- France recorded 19 crypto “wrench attacks” in 2025 – the highest of any country globally
- Data leaks from crypto tax platforms are believed to be fueling criminal targeting of investors
- Experts warn hardware wallets offer zero protection against physical coercion
The attackers – three men aged between 20 and 30, wearing balaclavas and gloves – gained entry by posing as police officers. Once inside, one suspect pressed a knife to the woman’s throat, threatening to kill her unless her 58-year-old partner surrendered his cryptocurrency holdings. He complied, transferring over 900,000 euros worth of Bitcoin into a wallet controlled by the attackers. The couple were then bound on a sofa. Both sustained minor injuries. The suspects left in a white van. The woman eventually freed herself and her husband, alerting neighbors around 9:00 AM.
The Versailles prosecutor’s office and the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry (BRB) are now leading the investigation, with charges including kidnapping, armed robbery by an organized gang, and criminal conspiracy.
France’s Crypto Crime Problem
This attack does not exist in a vacuum. It is the latest in a string of so-called “wrench attacks” – a term used in security circles to describe physical violence deployed specifically to extract cryptocurrency. France has become the undisputed epicenter of this trend. In 2025 alone, French authorities recorded 19 verified wrench attacks, the highest figure reported by any country worldwide. Between July 2023 and the end of 2025, police handled 40 cases of organized, crypto-related kidnapping.
The victims are not exclusively wealthy tech insiders. Targets have included ordinary retail investors, elderly relatives used as leverage, and high-profile figures – among them David Balland, co-founder of hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, who was abducted in early 2025.
Investigators and security experts point to two compounding factors driving France’s outsized numbers. First, data leaks. Stolen user records from crypto tax reporting platforms – including one known as Walt – along with leaks from French tax agency databases, are believed to have handed criminal networks a ready-made list of identifiable Bitcoin holders along with their addresses. Second, criminal evolution. Traditional organized crime groups, finding the drug trade increasingly competitive and legally risky, are migrating toward crypto extortion, drawn by the speed of irreversible blockchain transfers and what experts describe as a perception of judicial impunity.
Digital Security Means Nothing at Gunpoint
The Versailles case highlights a reality that security professionals have been raising for years: no amount of technical infrastructure protects against a knife at someone’s throat. Hardware wallets, cold storage, two-factor authentication – none of it matters when an attacker is standing in your living room.
Security researchers including Jameson Lopp have long argued that physical threat modeling is the missing conversation in crypto security. Their recommendations are blunt. Keep no significant holdings accessible from a single location. Multi-signature wallet setups, where cryptographic keys are distributed across separate geographic locations, mean that no one person can be coerced into a complete transfer. Structuring holdings with “decoy” wallets – smaller amounts that can be surrendered without sacrificing the bulk of one’s assets – offers a layer of plausible deniability under duress.
Beyond technical setups, the advice is equally straightforward: stop broadcasting wealth. Public displays of portfolio size in social media posts or group chats have repeatedly been traced back as the origin point for targeting. In a climate where a leaked tax record or a boastful Telegram message can end with you zip-tied to your own furniture, discretion is no longer optional – it is a security measure.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com does not endorse or recommend any specific investment strategy or cryptocurrency. Always conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Alex is an experienced financial journalist and cryptocurrency enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain, and fintech industries, he is well-versed in the complex and ever-evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and in-depth content. Follow his publications to stay up to date with the most important trends and topics.
Source: https://coindoo.com/french-couple-forced-to-hand-over-1m-in-bitcoin-at-knifepoint-in-home-invasion/