Wrench Attacks on Cryptocurrency Holders Caused $40.9 Million in Losses in 2025, with a 75% Year-on-Year Increase in Incident Count

Odaily News According to CertiK data, a total of 72 violent attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders occurred globally in 2025, representing a 75% year-on-year increase. Confirmed financial losses exceeded $40.9 million, a 44% year-on-year rise. Europe emerged as a hotspot for such crimes, accounting for 40% of the global total incidents, with France leading at 19 attacks. The report notes that kidnapping was the most prevalent method of attack, with physical assault incidents surging by 250%. Major events last year included the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland in France, who was extorted for €10 million in cryptocurrency. CertiK recommends users mitigate risks by maintaining decoy wallets, geographically separating seed phrases from hardware wallets, and utilizing multi-signature architectures.