Physical Attacks on Crypto Holders Surge 75% in 2025, Causing $41M in Damages: CertiK Report
According to the blockchain security auditor, physical violence targeting cryptocurrency wallet owners has become a "core threat vector in the crypto ecosystem," with a substantial rise observed between 2024 and 2025.
Physical violence directed at cryptocurrency holders or their family members, commonly referred to as "wrench attacks," saw a substantial uptick over the past year, as reported by blockchain security auditor CertiK.
According to a comprehensive report on wrench attacks published on Sunday, CertiK documented 72 confirmed incidents across the globe in 2025 where cryptocurrency holders were subjected to physical violence. The security platform emphasized that such attacks have evolved beyond isolated incidents, noting that physical assaults and abductions rose by approximately 75% compared to the number of incidents recorded in 2024.
"Beyond direct losses, the psychological and reputational fallout is reshaping behavior across the industry, pushing founders and high-net-worth individuals toward operational anonymity and geographical relocation," said CertiK. "2025 marks a clear inflection point: physical violence is now a core threat vector in the crypto ecosystem."
CertiK's research indicates that verified financial losses stemming from wrench attacks in 2025 totaled $40.9 million, though the actual figure may be considerably higher given factors such as "under-reporting, silent settlements, and untraceable ransoms." France experienced the highest concentration of such attacks last year, recording 19 verified incidents, while the European continent as a whole represented approximately 40% of all global wrench attacks documented in 2025.
Several high-profile incidents in 2025 included the kidnapping and ransom of crypto wallet manufacturer Ledger founder David Balland and his wife, Amandine, which occurred in January. In a separate incident, an Italian cryptocurrency holder was reportedly abducted and subjected to torture during a visit to New York City in May.
"Every week, there is a Bitcoiner, at least one in the world, who gets kidnapped, tortured, extorted, and sometimes even worse," said SatoshiLabs founder Alena Vranova in August, adding:
"We have seen cases of kidnappings for as little as $6,000 worth of crypto, and we have seen people murdered for $50,000 in crypto."
Possible solutions to wrench attacks
Among the proposed solutions to combat physical violence or coercion targeting cryptocurrency users is the creation of "panic wallets." These specialized wallets could potentially summon assistance, erase balances when the owner is under threat, or transmit misleading decoy information.
Nonetheless, numerous security experts recommend that cryptocurrency holders avoid publicly disclosing their wealth or digital asset holdings.