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 two to three days. The trend has prompted government officials to take action, with Minister Delegate to the Interior Ministry Jean-Didier Berger announcing a new set of measures to tackle the issue. The attacks, which involve the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, have become increasingly frequent and violent, with 72 verified physical coercion incidents reported globally in 2025, a 75% increase from the previous year. Researchers point to a shift in tactics, with attackers now focusing on identifying and targeting individuals rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that crypto transactions cannot be reversed, making it difficult for authorities to recover stolen funds. As the threat of wrench attacks continues to grow, security experts are calling for increased awareness and the implementation of measures such as multi-signature setups and withdrawal delays to reduce the risk of attacks.