Global losses from violent cryptocurrency thefts reached $124 million in the first half of 2026, marking a 33% increase from the same period last year.
The surge is driven by a shift in criminal methodology, with perpetrators increasingly using physical force to extract private keys from victims rather than relying solely on digital exploits.
France has become the epicenter of this trend, accounting for a disproportionate share of the reported incidents as criminals combine cyber intelligence with traditional kidnapping tactics.
The rise of so-called "wrench attacks" — where assailants use violence to coerce victims into handing over crypto assets — highlights a growing vulnerability for high-net-worth individuals.
Unlike traditional ransomware, which targets corporate infrastructure, these physical attacks exploit the self-custody nature of digital assets, where the holder is the sole point of failure.
The financial impact is immediate and severe, with no recourse for recovery once assets are transferred.
This development follows earlier calls from the French cryptocurrency industry for stricter regulatory and security measures.