France Becomes Hotbed of Crypto-Related Kidnappings as 'Wrench Attacks' Surge

A surge in crypto-related kidnappings has put France under the international spotlight, prompting government officials to take action against the rising trend of 'wrench attacks'. These attacks, which involve the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, have become more frequent and violent. According to security researchers and law enforcement data, the country has seen at least 41 crypto-related kidnappings and home invasions this year, with one incident occurring every two to three days. Minister Delegate to the Interior Ministry, Jean-Didier Berger, has announced that new measures are being prepared to tackle the issue, including a prevention platform that has already drawn thousands of registrations. The rise in wrench attacks is not limited to France, with a global increase in physical coercion incidents reported in 2025. Researchers attribute this trend to the fact that it is often easier for attackers to coerce a person into giving up their digital assets rather than trying to break encryption. The attacks often involve building profiles of potential victims, tracking their social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets to identify points of weakness. The problem is exacerbated when attackers receive insider information from government officials, as seen in a recent case where a French tax official sold sensitive data to wrench attackers. The pool of potential victims has widened, with mid-level holders and even families being targeted. Cases have involved prolonged captivity, torture, and even murder, making it harder to categorize the attacks by severity. Security experts point to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce the risk of wrench attacks by limiting how much can be accessed under duress.