What To Know:
- Binance confirmed its French employees and their family are safe after an attempted burglary, with three suspects arrested by authorities.
- The company’s leadership, including Changpeng Zhao and He Yi, said they are cooperating fully with French law enforcement.
- The incident highlights rising “wrench attacks,” where criminals target crypto-linked individuals through physical threats to access cryptos.
Binance has confirmed that a member of its team in France and their family are safe after a reported attempted burglary that has drawn attention across the crypto sector. The employee is reportedly cooperating with local authorities as investigations continue.
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, addressed the situation publicly. He said it was reassuring to know the employee and their family were unharmed and stressed the importance of personal safety and privacy in the crypto space. He also expressed hope that French law enforcement would identify and prosecute those involved.
Good to hear David and his family are safe. This highlights the importance of safety and privacy.
I hope the France law enforcement catches these bad actors in the physical world and keeps the country safe. https://t.co/QhuWJDaeN2
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) February 13, 2026
Binance Executive Based in France Attacked in Failed Home Invasion
The company’s co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, He Yi, issued a separate statement on social platform X. She confirmed that the employee and their family were safe and working with investigators. She also noted that three suspects connected to the case had been arrested and that Binance was continuing to cooperate fully with the authorities.
In her message, He Yi thanked the Brigade de Répression du Banditisme, a specialized French police unit, for what she described as a swift and professional response. She added that the safety of employees, users, and the broader crypto community remained the company’s top priority. She urged users to remain vigilant, verify information carefully, and report suspicious activity.
The incident itself took place on the morning of February 12, according to reports from French media outlet RTL. Three masked individuals entered an apartment building in the Val-de-Marne department around 7 a.m. The suspects were reportedly armed and were attempting to locate the residence of a senior Binance executive based in France.
Investigators said the intruders first forced their way into another resident’s apartment in order to gather information about the intended target. They then searched the executive’s residence. When they discovered the homeowner was not present, they took two mobile phones and left the building.
Roughly two hours later, the same suspects were involved in another attack in the nearby area of Villecresnes. In that incident, they mistakenly targeted another resident whom they believed to be a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. Authorities later confirmed that the individual had no connection to Binance.
French police were able to track the suspects through a combination of surveillance footage and mobile phone signal data. Officers eventually detained the three individuals at Lyon Part-Dieu railway station later that day. They remain in custody as the investigation continues.
The case has brought to attention a common pattern of physical crimes targeting individuals linked to crypto. These incidents, are often referred to as “wrench attacks.” Such attaxks involve the use of force or threats to gain access to cryptocurrency holdings or sensitive account information.
Recent months have seen several such cases reported in different parts of the world. In January, authorities in Arizona arrested two teenagers in connection with a violent home invasion in Scottsdale. The attackers allegedly sought access to crypto valued at tens of millions of dollars. The incident involved forced entry, restraints, and intimidation.
Another case in the US involved two brothers from Texas who were charged with kidnapping after allegedly holding a family hostage in Minnesota and stealing cryptos worth several million dollars. These events have raised grave concerns about personal security risks for individuals associated with the crypto industry.
Security experts say the rise of high-value crypto has made executives, traders, and even ordinary holders more visible targets. Unlike traditional bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets can sometimes be accessed with private keys or passwords that individuals store themselves, which can make them vulnerable in physical coercion scenarios.
Also Read: Binance Suspends Employee Amid Insider Trading Investigation Claims
