In the incident near Paris, there was an unsuccessful home raid attempt targeting David Prinçay, CEO of Binance France. In the early morning hours of February 12, three masked men broke into an apartment building in the Val-de-Marne district. The suspects first confused the apartment they targeted, so they entered another apartment and then headed towards Prinçay’s house.
Details of the Incident and Police Investigation
David Prinçay serves as the CEO of the French branch of Binance, one of Europe’s largest cryptocurrency platforms, and is known as a prominent executive in the crypto space. He was not at the scene during the attack on his home. After carrying out the raid, the suspects took two mobile phones and fled the apartment.
The French police, who conducted the investigation, determined that the suspects tried to enter another house with a similar method after the incident. In the second attempt in Vaucresson in the morning, it was reported that the group went to the wrong address and attacked. Police tracked down the magnetic devices stolen in the two incidents and analyzed security camera footage to reveal that the suspects were traveling by train towards Lyon.
Latest Situation in Detention and Investigation
Lyon BRI teams caught and detained the suspects at Lyon Perrache train station on the same day. Procedures regarding the three detained people continue. The investigation of the incident is being carried out in cooperation with various units such as the anti-gang unit in Paris, the Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, Yvelines police units and the transport police.
There is no official statement yet as to whether the incident was carried out for money laundering, organized crime activities or any other financial purpose. So far, there has been no direct statement from Binance company to the public.
Security Concerns Are Increasing in the Cryptocurrency Industry
There has been an increase in attacks against cryptocurrency managers and entrepreneurs in Europe, especially in France, in recent years. Some criminals attempt to gain access to digital assets through attacks, threats or physical violence. It has been reported that in 2025 and beyond, cases of kidnapping, ransom and house raids targeting cryptocurrency holders will increase both in France and other countries.
Last year in Canada, a Hong Kong citizen was sentenced to seven years in prison for the sexual assault of a British Columbia family’s home and the theft of $1.6 million worth of Bitcoin. Experts state that such crimes are due to the fact that cryptocurrencies are difficult to track compared to cash.
French authorities, on the other hand, continue their monitoring and prevention efforts against increasing crime cases in the crypto field.
Relations Between Binance and the French State
French authorities investigated Binance for allegations of money laundering, tax evasion and unlicensed activity until it received official approval in 2022. In early 2025, the scope of these investigations expanded, specifically addressing anti-money laundering measures and whether illegal services were provided. The investigation also examines Binance’s possible connection with drug trafficking. Binance did not make any public statement regarding the investigation during this period.
