A cryptocurrency businessman in Montpellier, France, successfully fought off an armed robbery attempt after an attacker allegedly demanded access to his crypto wallet’s private keys. The incident took place on April 11, when a man disguised as a delivery worker entered the victim’s home and pulled a handgun. According to the report, the suspect also held the victim’s family in the living room while pressing for control over the crypto holdings.
The situation shifted when the assailant became distracted during a phone call with an alleged accomplice. The 40-year-old victim used that opening to grab the gun and fired it, though no one was injured. The move was enough to force the suspect to flee. The case highlights a growing pattern in which crypto-related crime extends beyond online theft and hacks into direct physical coercion aimed at obtaining private keys or wallet access.
Arrest Made as Investigation Continues
French police arrested a 25-year-old suspect three days after the attempted robbery and charged him with attempted armed robbery. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and have not ruled out the possibility that the attack was orchestrated externally. That detail suggests investigators are considering whether the incident may be linked to broader organized criminal activity rather than an isolated act.
France Sees Surge in Crypto-Linked Physical Crime
The Montpellier case comes amid a broader rise in crypto-related robberies and kidnappings in France. The source material states that the country has recorded more than 40 attempted robberies or kidnappings involving crypto assets this year alone, with some cases potentially tied to foreign groups. As crypto wealth becomes more visible, the threat of offline extortion targeting private keys, seed phrases, and direct wallet control is becoming an increasingly serious security concern for holders and industry participants.