Report: In the first half of this year, there were 52 cases of offline violence “wrench attacks” targeting crypto individuals, with related losses and ransom amounts totaling about $124 million

PANews July 22, according to Bloomberg, blockchain security firm CertiK reported that in the first half of 2026, 52 in-person “wrench attacks” targeting holders of crypto assets worldwide have been confirmed, up 33% year over year. Total losses and ransom amounts were about $124 million, a significant increase from roughly $10.5 million in the same period last year. Among them, home-invasion robberies saw the fastest growth, with 20 cases confirmed within six months. France, due to the relatively large size of its local crypto ecosystem and multiple data breaches, became the country with the most publicly reported cases (Europe became a high-frequency region for attacks, with France accounting for 33 cases, or 63.5% of global cases). The report also noted that criminal groups precisely identify high-net-worth crypto holders by integrating on-chain records, leaked customer databases, and information from social media, and that the industry faces pressure to expand from cybersecurity to personal safety and operational security.