Crypto Holders Under Siege: The Alarming Rise of Wrench Attacks in France

A surge in crypto-related kidnappings has put France at the forefront of a global rise in wrench attacks, with the country experiencing one such incident every 2.5 days. The increase in these violent crimes has prompted government officials to take action, with a new set of measures being prepared to tackle the issue. The trend is not limited to France, as security researchers and law enforcement data show that attacks on crypto holders are becoming more frequent and violent worldwide. In 2025, there were 72 verified physical coercion incidents globally, representing 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 for some attackers, it is easier to coerce a person than to break encryption. Researchers say that the way attackers identify victims has also changed, with a shift from scanning for technical vulnerabilities to building profiles based on social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets. The problem is exacerbated when attackers receive insider information from government officials, as seen in a case where a French 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. The increase in attacks has raised questions about the risks of self-custody, a core principle of cryptocurrency, and some security experts point to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce risk. As crypto adoption grows, attacks are becoming more frequent and severe, turning what was once a niche concern into a broader security risk.