Binance France CEO's residence was broken into, three suspects arrested

Binance France CEO David Prinçay’s residence in Val-de-Marne was broken into by three masked men on the 12th. The suspects stole two phones and committed another crime later that evening. Ultimately, with the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies, they were apprehended at Lyon Perrache train station that night.

Robbers Break In and Take Two Phones

According to French media RTL, the CEO was not at home during the incident. The crime targeting high-level executives in the crypto industry occurred around 7 a.m. on February 12 in France. Three masked men entered an apartment building in Val-de-Marne, targeting the residence of Binance France’s CEO. Initial investigations show that the suspects were poorly prepared, as they mistakenly entered another resident’s home asking for directions before entering Prinçay’s apartment. Since Prinçay was not present at the time, he was not directly attacked. The suspects only took two phones after breaking into the apartment.

Suspects Reoffend and Are Apprehended

Shortly after the first incident, the suspects committed another crime at 9:15 a.m. in Vaucresson, Upper Seine department, where they assaulted a resident with a gun butt. Police tracked the stolen phones’ locations through technical means, confirming their match with the suspects’ vehicle footage. This prompted a joint operation involving departments from Upper Seine, Val-de-Marne, and traffic police. Eventually, the Lyon International Crime Squad (BRI), after receiving intelligence, intercepted and arrested three suspects at Lyon Perrache train station as they were preparing to flee via public transportation.

Frequent “Wrench Attacks” and Violence in Crypto Crime Raise Social Concerns

This incident has intensified concerns in France and internationally about the rising frequency of physical violence related to cryptocurrency crimes, known as “wrench attacks.” This term refers to criminals abandoning complex hacking techniques in favor of using violence or threats to force victims to hand over digital asset keys. Over the past two years, there have been numerous cases of extortion and home invasions targeting crypto holders and entrepreneurs, including a man in Canada sentenced for violently robbing $1.6 million worth of Bitcoin. These cases highlight that high-net-worth crypto asset owners are increasingly threatened physically and in terms of personal safety, making them targets for criminals.

Binance and French Government Relations Tense

While the residence of Binance France’s CEO was broken into, the company’s relationship with French authorities is also under strain, challenging Binance’s operations in France. Since 2022, French authorities have been investigating Binance for alleged money laundering, tax fraud, and unregistered activities. The investigation escalated in early 2025, focusing on potential weaknesses in the platform’s anti-money laundering controls and possible involvement in illegal services. As of press time, Binance has not issued any public statement regarding the break-in at the CEO’s residence.

This article, “Binance France CEO’s Residence Break-In, Three Suspects Arrested,” first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.