A surge in crypto-related kidnappings has put France at the forefront of a global rise in wrench attacks, with authorities scrambling to respond to the escalating threat. The country has seen at least 41 such incidents this year, averaging nearly one every two to three days.
Government officials have expressed alarm at the scale of the problem, with Minister Delegate to the Interior Ministry Jean-Didier Berger announcing plans to introduce new measures to tackle the issue. A prevention platform has already been launched, but further steps are needed as incidents continue to rise. The term 'wrench attack' refers to the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, and researchers warn that the trend is on the rise globally, with 72 verified physical coercion incidents reported in 2025, a 75% increase from the previous year.
Attackers are becoming more sophisticated, using social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets to identify potential victims and track their routines. The problem is exacerbated when attackers receive insider information from government officials, and the pool of potential victims has widened to include mid-level holders and even families. Security experts point to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce risk, but the increase in attacks has raised questions about the risks of self-custody, a core principle of cryptocurrency. As crypto adoption grows, attacks are becoming more frequent and severe, turning what was once a niche concern into a broader security risk.