Crypto wrench attacks rise to 52, $124 M exposure H1 2026

Incidents of physical coercion targeting cryptocurrency holders, known as "wrench attacks," rose sharply in the first half of 2026, with a significant shift toward home invasions as the dominant tactic. According to a new report from blockchain security firm CertiK, there were 52 verified incidents globally from January through June, a 33.3 percent increase from the 39 cases recorded in the same period last year.

The financial exposure linked to these attacks surged to approximately $124.1 million, up from $10.5 million in the first half of 2025. CertiK clarified that this figure represents a broad measure of risk, encompassing ransom demands, funds transferred by victims, and assets that were later frozen or recovered, rather than solely confirmed thefts. The average recorded exposure per incident rose from roughly $270,000 to $2.39 million.

Geographically, the attacks were heavily concentrated in Europe, which accounted for 39 of the 52 incidents. France was the epicenter, with 33 verified cases alone, representing nearly two-thirds of the global total. The United States recorded four incidents, while Sweden and the United Kingdom each recorded two.