CertiK: Cryptocurrency brute-force extortion and theft cases are frequent, and the risk of victims' families being implicated continues to rise

Golden Finance reports that on May 9th, the crypto security organization CertiK estimates that in the first four months of 2026, users have suffered losses of approximately $101 million due to offline coercive theft attacks on cryptocurrencies.
If the current growth rate continues, the total losses for the entire year of 2026 will reach several hundred million dollars.
The organization states that offline coercive theft attacks are a specialized term in cybersecurity, referring to methods such as physical violence, extortion, and threats that breach even the most secure software security defenses; now, these types of attacks have become a normalized and established threat channel for crypto asset holders.
Experts say that 2025 was the most rampant year on record for offline theft attacks, with about 70 cases of physical violence reported. However, due to the nature of these cases, many are likely unreported and undisclosed.
CertiK data shows that since 2026, 34 verified cases have occurred worldwide, a 41% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Based on current trends, approximately 130 cases are expected for the entire year of 2026, with asset losses reaching several hundred million dollars.
Notably, among the 34 verified cases this year, 28 occurred in Europe, accounting for 82%. Meanwhile, the number of reports in the United States dropped from 9 in the first quarter of 2025 to 3; in Asia, from 25 to 2.
France has once again become a major hotspot: 24 attacks have been recorded so far in 2026, compared to 20 cases for the entire year of 2025, and France has already led the world in case numbers significantly in previous years.