The Alarming Rise of Crypto-Related Attacks in France and Beyond

A surge in crypto-related kidnappings has put France at the forefront of a global issue, with wrench attacks becoming increasingly brazen and violent. The country has seen at least 41 such incidents this year, prompting government officials to acknowledge the scale of the problem and announce new measures to tackle it. The rise of wrench attacks, which involve using physical force to extract access to digital assets, is a growing concern worldwide. According to security researchers and law enforcement data, the trend is on the rise globally, with 72 verified physical coercion incidents reported 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 shifting their focus from technical vulnerabilities to building profiles of potential victims, using social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets to identify points of weakness. The problem is exacerbated when attackers receive inside help from government officials, such as 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. In some cases, attackers have used prolonged captivity and torture to force victims to surrender their crypto assets. Security experts point to measures such as multi-signature setups, withdrawal delays, and spending limits as ways to reduce risk by limiting how much can be accessed under duress. As crypto adoption grows, attacks are becoming more frequent and severe, turning what was once a niche concern into a broader security risk.