Armed criminals posing as police officers forced a French couple to transfer about €900,000 ($980,000) in bitcoin during a violent home invasion in Chesnay near Paris on Monday.
The suspects reportedly entered the home after presenting themselves as police officers, threatening the couple and forcing the 59-year-old husband to transfer the cryptocurrency while his wife, 58, was held at knifepoint.
Authorities said the transfer was carried out under duress before the attackers tied the husband up and forced both victims to sit on a sofa inside the house, while the woman suffered a shoulder injury during the incident.
The suspects fled in a white van after the transfer was completed, with the attack ending around 9 a.m. local time when the injured woman managed to free her husband and alert neighbours.
Prosecutors in Versailles said the case is being investigated as kidnapping, armed robbery by an organised group, and criminal conspiracy, with the probe led by the Brigade de répression du banditisme (BRB).
No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday and authorities have not disclosed the destination wallet that received the stolen bitcoin.
French officials say crypto-related kidnappings have increased significantly since early 2025 as digital asset wealth becomes more visible and more individuals hold substantial cryptocurrency holdings.
One of the most prominent recent cases involved the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland in January 2025, who was later rescued during a GIGN tactical operation while his wife was freed in a separate police intervention.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $69,653.07.