David Prinçay, the CEO of Binance France, was targeted in an attempted home invasion referred to as a “home-jacking” in French reports.
According to reports from RTL and covered by crypto news outlets like Crypto Briefing, three hooded/masked men—described as an amateurish group—attempted to break into his apartment in Val-de-Marne around 7 a.m. They were armed and entered the apartment building, searching for his residence, but fled after finding he was not home.
The executive was unharmed, as he was away at the time. The suspects reportedly carried out or attempted a second home invasion later that morning in Vaucresson, before being arrested in Lyon. This incident occurs amid a broader rise in crypto-related crimes in France and globally, including home invasions, kidnappings, and extortion attempts targeting high-profile individuals or those perceived to hold significant cryptocurrency assets.
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Authorities and industry figures have noted increasing risks as crypto adoption and visibility grow. Binance Co-CEO Yi He commented on social media that affected parties are safe and cooperating with law enforcement, though specific to this case, the CEO escaped harm due to his absence.
Prinçay was unharmed because he was not at home during the early morning attempt in Val-de-Marne. The three masked and armed suspects entered the building, mistakenly broke into the wrong apartment first, then accessed his residence, stole two mobile phones, and fled upon realizing he was absent. Binance Co-CEO Yi He publicly stated that affected Binance France employees and their families are safe and actively cooperating with law enforcement.
The group attempted a second home invasion later that morning in Vaucresson mistakenly targeting another resident, possibly another crypto figure. Police tracked them via surveillance, stolen phone signals, and vehicle pursuit, leading to their arrest in Lyon by the Brigade de Recherche et d’Intervention (BRI). The three suspects are in custody and under investigation.
This event underscores the escalating wave of “wrench attacks” in France: France has seen a sharp rise in such incidents, with reports indicating over 19-20 crypto-related violent attacks in recent periods, making it a leading hotspot in Europe, over 40% of global incidents in some analyses.
High-profile cases include involving family members of crypto entrepreneurs like Paymium’s Pierre Noizat or Ledger co-founders, armed robberies, and ransom demands, often linked to data leaks, public visibility of crypto wealth, or organized crime groups.
The amateurish nature of this attempt contrasts with more sophisticated prior cases but highlights how even perceived crypto affiliation makes individuals targets. The incident amplifies calls for better personal security among crypto holders, executives, and employees.
It serves as a reminder that as crypto adoption and asset values grow, so do real-world risks beyond digital threats. Binance France appears unaffected in terms of business continuity; the focus remains on cooperation with authorities rather than any internal fallout.
This fits into a pattern of increasing crypto-linked physical crimes in France and parts of Europe, prompting discussions on enhanced law enforcement, privacy measures and protective steps like anonymous living or security protocols for high-net-worth individuals in the sector.
While the direct consequences were limited, it reinforces the growing intersection of cryptocurrency visibility and physical criminal threats in France, urging greater caution in the community. No long-term personal or corporate updates on Prinçay have emerged yet, given the recency of the event.