Crypto investor loses €2M in Bitcoin after violent Paris robbery; experts warn of rising physical threats to digital wealth.
A shocking robbery in Paris has raised serious concerns about the safety of cryptocurrency users. A 34-year-old crypto professional was attacked and robbed at the luxury Peninsula Hotel. The attackers took away a hard drive with personal keys to 2 million euros in Bitcoin and an iPhone 13 Pro Max belonging to the victim.
Hard Drive Holding Bitcoin Stolen in Violent Attack
According to the report, Police say five masked men executed the attack. They were termed as very organized and had a purpose in their actions. The accident occurred early morning, and this caught the victim unawares. She subsequently told the police that she was threatened and beaten. The suspects who have been accused of stealing the hard drive allegedly ran away with it, and this will enable them to access a huge amount of Bitcoin.
The phone that was stolen was expensive, but even more dangerous was the loss of the hard drive. The victim does not have access to her digital wallet without the private keys that it holds. According to cryptocurrency professionals, the money can be lost irretrievably in case the keys are not secured somewhere.
Early in the morning after the attack, police in Paris had a quick investigation. All five suspects were arrested in 48 hours. Police claimed that due to the Anti-Banditism Brigade, a fast reaction was facilitated. A spokesperson of the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrests and said that more investigations are being carried out.
The stolen hard drive has not yet been found. This has renewed the argument on the dangers of keeping cryptocurrency in physical devices that lack security. Analysts are advising users of cryptocurrency to be extra careful. They advise the use of secure cold storage, multi-signature wallets, and wallet privacy.
Related Reading: Paris Cracks Down on Crypto Kidnapping Ring, Arrests 12
Victim Faced Prior Threats Before Paris Crypto Heist
This case can be associated with a debt of 40,000 euros, which the victim supposedly owed. Police suspect that it may be related to a nearby establishment, but the details are not very clear. Investigators are also looking to see whether the attackers knew about crypto holdings of the victim.
In addition, the victim said this was not the first threat she had faced. She alleged that the same suspects flashed at her a weapon the previous week in another occurrence. Such assertions have prompted authorities to look at the possibility of the involvement of organized crime in the case.
The incident is not the first of its kind in Paris. In May 2025, 12 suspects were arrested by the police relating to a kidnapping scheme intended to kidnap the owners of cryptocurrency businesses and their families. Digital currencies were involved in these ransom demands that led to these arrests.
Lately, when another case in point occurs, even those in the crypto sphere feel alarmed. Physical violence and digital theft pairs are increasingly becoming frequent. Marie Dubois, a cybersecurity specialist in Paris, commented, “This case shows the reality vividly that crypto-affluence might draw hazardous focus. There should be digital and physical security.”
In conclusion, the violent robbery in Paris serves as a caution to its cryptocurrency users all across the world. The risk has been increasing as digital wealth is increasing. The necessity of higher levels of security and awareness has never been so acute as nowadays.
