Three individuals posing as police officers forced a couple in their late fifties to transfer the equivalent of €900,000 in Bitcoin (BTC) at knifepoint during an early morning home invasion in Le Chesnay, Yvelines, France.
What Happened: Armed Home Invasion
The attackers arrived early Monday morning and identified themselves as police officers, prompting the woman to open her front door. She was immediately pushed inside alongside her husband, who was tied up on the sofa while one of the assailants pulled a knife and threatened to attack the woman unless the transfer was completed.
The couple complied. Around 9 a.m., the three individuals fled in a white van, and only then was the woman — slightly injured during the initial confrontation — able to untie her husband and call neighbors for help.
No arrests have been made.
The Versailles prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into kidnapping and armed robbery by an organized gang, as well as criminal conspiracy, according to TF1. The case has been assigned to the Brigade de répression du banditisme (BRB).
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Why It Matters: Rising Physical Crypto Theft
The Le Chesnay attack is part of a widening pattern of violent, real-world cryptocurrency robberies. On Mar. 4, veteran trader known as "Mr Silly" lost roughly $24 million through a combination of address poisoning and an offline robbery, as reported by Bitcoinist.
In Nov. 2025, an armed robber posing as a delivery worker invaded a San Francisco home, tied up the resident and stole $11 million in cryptocurrency.
France has seen a particular spike. In Jan. last year, Ledger co-founder David Balland was abducted and later freed by police. On Feb. 12, the head of Binance France was targeted by three hooded individuals in a failed home invasion at his Val-de-Marne apartment, according to French outlet RTL News. TF1 reports that kidnappings targeting crypto holders in France have multiplied since early 2025.