๐๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐๐ผโ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐: ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐, ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ช๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐
David Prinรงay, 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 Prinรงayโs residence. After locating the correct apartment, they discovered that Prinรงay and his family were not present. Unable to confront their intended target, the attackers stole two mobile phones before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, Prinรงay 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 Mรฉreau.
The attackers demanded โฌ10 million in cryptocurrency as ransom. To intensify pressure and demonstrate their seriousness, they severed one of Ballandโs 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 doesnโt 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 โwrench attack,โ where attackers bypass technical security entirely by targeting the individual directly.
Below, weโve outlined several other high profile crypto kidnappings that took place across France between 2025 and 2026 ๐๐ป
