Binance France President Targeted in Armed Kidnapping Attempt
Gunmen attempted to break into the home of Binance France president David Prinçay on Thursday morning, marking the latest in a growing wave of crypto-related attacks across France.
According to RTL, three hooded individuals entered a residential building in Val-de-Marne on February 12 around 7 a.m. They would be armed and would be looking for Prinçay’s apartment.
However, the attackers fled after discovering that he was not at home.
Armed commando flees, then strikes again
Local reports suggest the group first forced another resident to help them locate the correct apartment. Police said the suspects searched the Binance executive’s residence before leaving with two stolen phones.
Shortly after, around 9:15 a.m., the Hauts-de-Seine police intervened in another incident. A resident of Vaucresson reported being hit in the head with a rifle butt by hooded men.
Authorities later linked the two events.
According to RTL, surveillance images showed the suspects using the same vehicle seen earlier in Val-de-Marne. The stolen phones were also traced to the second location.
Witnesses reportedly heard the attackers say the address was incorrect before fleeing again.
Arrested at Lyon Perrache station
French law enforcement launched a coordinated operation involving the Paris Banditry Repression Brigade (BRB), police units from Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, Yvelines and the transport police.
Investigators followed the suspects via public transportation.
The three men boarded a train bound for Lyon. Authorities alerted the Lyon BRI cell, which intercepted and arrested them at Lyon Perrache station later that day.
They are now in police custody. The investigation is still ongoing.
Binance co-founder Yi He addressed the incident on X, confirming that the targeted executive and his family are safe.
Is France becoming a haven for crypto-crime?
The attempted attack comes amid a surge in crypto-related kidnappings and home invasions across France.
In May 2025, French police arrested more than 20 suspects linked to a series of kidnappings in and around the Paris region, where criminals targeted wealthy crypto investors.
Throughout 2025, French law enforcement continued to dismantle cells linked to crypto-focused extortion.
Investigations revealed that attackers frequently used private information obtained from dark web leaks or social media scrapings to profile potential targets.
The methods used ranged from staged home invasions – often early in the morning – to coordinated kidnappings and forced movement between locations to evade detection.
Read original story Binance France president targeted in armed kidnapping attempt by Mohammad Shahid at beincrypto.com
