A surge in violent attacks on cryptocurrency holders, known as 'wrench attacks,' has put France at the center of a global crisis. These attacks, which involve the use of physical force to gain access to digital assets, have become increasingly frequent and brazen. The country has seen at least 41 crypto-related kidnappings and home invasions this year, prompting government officials to take action.
A new set of measures is being prepared to tackle the issue, including a prevention platform that has already drawn thousands of registrations. However, authorities acknowledge that further steps are needed to address the problem. The trend is not limited to France, with a 75% increase in verified physical coercion incidents globally in 2025.
Security researchers and law enforcement data show that attacks on crypto holders are becoming more frequent and more violent. The term 'wrench attack' refers to the use of physical force to extract access to digital assets, which can be easier for attackers than breaking encryption.
Once a victim authorizes a transfer under duress, the funds can be moved quickly across wallets and chains, making recovery difficult. Researchers say that attackers are shifting from scanning for technical vulnerabilities to building profiles of potential victims, tracking their social media activity, public appearances, and leaked datasets. The biggest avoidable mistake is tying real-world identity, location, and routine too tightly to visible crypto wealth. The problem is exacerbated when attackers get insider help from government officials.
The pool of potential victims has widened, with mid-level holders increasingly being targeted. 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. Both opportunistic and organized groups are involved, with signs of increasing coordination.
After obtaining funds, attackers tend to move quickly, converting crypto assets into stablecoins and routing them across multiple chains, making recovery more difficult. Rising asset prices have increased the potential payoff from a single attack, while improvements in digital security have reduced the effectiveness of purely technical exploits.
The increase in attacks has raised questions about the risks of self-custody, a core principle of cryptocurrency. Some 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.