Three men posing as police officers forced a Versailles couple to transfer approximately $1 million in Bitcoin (BTC) at knifepoint, in one of France’s most brazen crypto home invasions.
The attack targeted a man and woman in their late 50s at their home in the Le Chesnay district, according to sources close to Versailles police cited by TF1.
Why it matters:
Crypto holders face growing physical security risks as on-chain wealth becomes a direct target for organized criminal networks
France’s 40 documented crypto kidnapping cases since July 2023 signal a systemic threat, not isolated incidents
Attackers impersonating law enforcement signals a tactical shift that makes conventional home security insufficient
The details:
Assailants gained entry by posing as police officers; one pulled a knife and threatened to stab the woman unless BTC was transferred
After the transfer was confirmed, attackers fled in a van, leaving the woman with a minor shoulder injury
The woman freed herself, untied her husband, then summoned a neighbor for help
No arrests have been made; suspects face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy
The Versailles prosecutor’s office reportedly confirmed the BTC loss and assigned the case to France’s Banditry Repression Brigade, the judicial police unit handling organized crime.
The big picture:
French police recorded approximately 40 organized crypto kidnapping cases between July 2023 and late 2025, with overseas masterminds reportedly commissioning several attacks.
Source: https://beincrypto.com/versailles-couple-bitcoin-robbery-knifepoint/