CertiK: Crypto “wrench attacks” surge in 2026, with Europe the hardest-hit region—France especially prominent

According to The Block, blockchain security firm CertiK released a report on May 8 stating that 34 confirmed “wrench attacks” (i.e., offline physical assaults and extortion targeting cryptocurrency holders) occurred globally in the first four months of 2026—an increase of 41% compared to the same period in 2025. Victims’ total losses amounted to approximately $101 million. If this trend continues, the annual number of incidents is projected to reach around 130, with losses potentially totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Geographically, 28 of the 34 incidents (82%) occurred in Europe, with France standing out particularly: 24 cases were recorded there in the first four months of 2026 alone—exceeding the full-year total of 20 incidents in 2025. CertiK attributes this surge to France’s hosting of flagship crypto firms such as Ledger and Binance, frequent data breaches, and a community culture of conspicuous wealth display and proactive doxxing. In contrast, reported incidents in the U.S. dropped from nine in Q1 2025 to three in Q1 2026, while Asia saw a decline from 25 to two. Regarding attack patterns, CertiK notes that criminal groups have shifted toward a “data-driven targeting” model—purchasing victims’ names, addresses, and asset information from data brokers, thereby reducing the need for physical reconnaissance. Over half of this year’s incidents involved threats against or direct harm to victims’ family members (spouses, children, elderly parents) as a coercive tactic. Operationally, small gangs of three to five individuals typically carry out these attacks via