BlockBeats News, April 21st, the French police are investigating a case of violent cryptocurrency "extortion attack." On April 21st, three criminals disguised as police officers broke into a residence near Paris, threatened and restrained a couple in their 50s with a knife, and forced the husband to transfer approximately $1 million worth of Bitcoin. The victims were injured, the husband was tied up, and the criminals escaped by car after succeeding.

This case highlights that the security threat of cryptocurrency is shifting from digital attacks to physical coercion against holders. Criminals impersonate police officers, create emergencies and psychological fear to compel victims to willingly authorize transactions, completely bypassing all technical defense measures such as wallet encryption.

Data shows that such "extortion attacks" have significantly increased in 2025, rising by 75% compared to 2024, with France being a hotspot. The financial losses in 2025 due to this reached $40.9 million, a 44% increase year-on-year. In addition to kidnapping, physical assault cases surged by 250%.

Security experts recommend that cryptocurrency holders avoid openly discussing their asset holdings, separate their on-chain identity from real-world identity, use multi-signature wallets, and distribute key control.