A surge in crypto-related kidnappings, known as 'wrench attacks,' has put France under the international spotlight, prompting government officials to take action. This year, the country has seen at least 41 such incidents, occurring at a rate of one every two to three days.
In response, a new set of measures is being prepared by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Minister Delegate Jean-Didier Berger to tackle the issue. A prevention platform has already been launched, with thousands of registrations, but further steps are needed as the number of incidents continues to rise.
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. According to security researchers and law enforcement data, the trend is on the rise globally, with 72 verified physical coercion incidents in 2025, a 75% increase from the previous year. The country has become the epicenter of a global rise in wrench attacks, with attackers becoming more brazen and violent. Researchers say 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 get insider information from government officials. 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 access to funds.
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.