France Becomes Hotspot for Crypto-Related Kidnappings and Wrench Attacks

A surge in crypto-related kidnappings and wrench attacks has put France under the international spotlight, prompting government officials to take action. This year alone, the country has seen at least 41 such incidents, which translates to roughly one every two to three days. The French government is preparing a new set of measures to tackle the issue, including a prevention platform that has already gained thousands of registrations. The trend is not limited to France, as security researchers and law enforcement data indicate a global rise in wrench attacks, with 72 verified physical coercion incidents reported in 2025, marking a 75% increase from the previous year. The term 'wrench attack' refers to the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, and researchers note that attackers are shifting their focus from technical vulnerabilities to building profiles of potential victims, tracking their social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets to identify points of weakness. As the problem persists, security experts point to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce risk by limiting access to funds under duress.