Armed attackers forced a French family to transfer €700,000 ($820,000) in cryptocurrency during a home invasion this week. The incident highlights escalating physical security risks for digital asset holders as coercion-based theft rises across Europe.
The attack occurred Monday in Ploudalmézeau, northwest France, according to Le Télégramme. Two hooded men entered the home, restrained three adults, and held them for over three hours while demanding access to crypto holdings. The victims included a mother, two children, and two grandparents, with the funds transferred under duress.
Jean-Luc Padellec
Why Are Crypto-Linked Home Invasions Rising In France?
France has recorded more than 40 crypto-linked kidnappings and abductions since January, per Le Télégramme. That figure already exceeds roughly 30 cases documented across all of 2025, indicating a sharp acceleration in targeted physical attacks against known or suspected crypto holders.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT recently cited a 2023 case involving French streamer TeufeurS, where kidnappers demanded a crypto ransom and received roughly $2 million. He said collaboration with Binance security teams enabled authorities to freeze about $800,000, with six suspects later arrested.
In late 2023, French streamer TeufeurS was extorted for a ransom after a family member was kidnapped in France.
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 22, 2026
I can finally share that I helped lead efforts that resulted in an ~$800K freeze with the Binance Security team after a $2M ransom was paid.
Six suspects tied to the… pic.twitter.com/8SasirtMN9
Recent incidents show a consistent pattern of impersonation and targeted surveillance. In March, attackers posing as police forced a Paris-area couple to transfer about €900,000 ($1 million) in Bitcoin, while a February attempt targeted David Princay, head of Binance France, though suspects were later arrested.
Still, enforcement outcomes remain uneven despite multiple arrests in high-profile cases. The Rennes gendarmerie has opened an investigation into the latest Ploudalmézeau attack, but no suspects have been detained. As physical threats intersect with digital wealth, market participants will be watching whether law enforcement coordination and custody practices evolve to mitigate further incidents.
