The Alarming Rise of Crypto-Related Violence: How France Became a Hotbed for Wrench Attacks

A surge in crypto-related kidnappings has put France under the international spotlight, prompting government officials to take action against the escalating problem. This year alone, the country has seen at least 41 crypto-related kidnappings and home invasions, averaging one every two to three days. The French government is preparing new measures to tackle the issue, including a prevention platform that has already drawn thousands of registrations. The rise in wrench attacks, which involve the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, is not unique to France, with a global increase in such incidents reported in 2025. According to Certik and crypto researcher Jameson Lopp's data, there were 72 verified physical coercion incidents globally in 2025, a 75% increase from the previous year. The term 'wrench attack' refers to the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, often because it is easier to coerce a person than to break encryption. Researchers say that attackers are now identifying victims by building profiles, tracking social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets, rather than scanning for technical vulnerabilities. The problem is exacerbated when attackers receive insider information from government officials, as seen in a widely reported case in France where a tax official sold sensitive data to wrench attackers. The pool of potential victims has widened, with mid-level holders increasingly being targeted, sometimes based on limited or indirect signals. Cases now include families, with children targeted alongside crypto-holding parents, making the attacks harder to categorize by severity. In some instances, attacks have involved prolonged captivity and torture, such as a case in New York where a crypto investor was held for more than two weeks. Experts say that both opportunistic and organized groups are involved, with signs of increasing coordination and pre-planning. After obtaining funds, attackers tend to move quickly, converting crypto assets into stablecoins and routing them across multiple chains, making recovery more difficult. The trend may reflect a mix of factors, including cases involving leaked personal data and cross-border criminal networks. Rising asset prices have increased the potential payoff from a single attack, while improvements in digital security have reduced the effectiveness of purely technical exploits. The increase in attacks has raised questions about the risks of self-custody, a core principle of cryptocurrency, with some security experts pointing to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce risk.