Binance employee hunted down in botched France home invasion as crypto “wrench attack” spike spreads

A recent botched home invasion targeting the CEO of Binance France on February 12th signals a tactical escalation in crypto-related physical coercion, or "wrench attacks." Attackers reportedly entered the wrong residence first before targeting the executive, who, along with their family, is safe, though two phones were stolen before suspects were arrested. This incident is concerning because it targets a high-profile executive at the world's largest crypto exchange, suggesting organized criminals are professionalizing target selection, moving beyond just retail 'whales.' CertiK's 2025 report noted a 75% global increase in verified physical coercion incidents, with France leading Europe with 19 verified cases, often involving kidnapping or physical assault. Targeting executives is seen as lucrative because they are perceived to hold personal wealth, privileged system access, and wealthy networks, making them easier to locate via OSINT than pseudonymous whales. France has become a hotspot due to a dense founder class (e.g., Ledger), data availability from leaks (like the Waltio breach), organized kidnapping infrastructure, and compliance mandates (like the 'travel rule') concentrating sensitive identity data. Experts suggest that without regulators treating data handling as a security problem with strict penalties, these structural vulnerabilities will continue to drive attacks, forcing executives to increase personal security or shift assets to institutional custody.

(Source：CryptoSlate)