France Charges 88 in Crackdown on Crypto Wrench Attacks
French authorities have charged 88 individuals, including 10 minors, in connection with a wave of violent "wrench attacks" targeting cryptocurrency holders. Of those charged, 75 are being held in pretrial detention, according to Vanessa Perrée, France’s national prosecutor for organized crime. The arrests span 12 cases currently under investigation by specialized judges in the Paris Judicial Court.
Wrench attacks—named after a satirical webcomic highlighting how physical force can bypass digital security—typically involve coercing victims to surrender crypto wallet credentials through methods like home invasions, kidnappings, and extortion. The rise of these attacks reflects a troubling trend in offline security risks tied to digital asset ownership.
France has seen a marked increase in such incidents. According to the National Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (PNACO), there were 18 wrench attacks in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 already reported in 2026. Global data supports this surge, with blockchain security firm CertiK reporting a 75% uptick in such attacks worldwide in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Organized Networks Behind the Crimes
Investigators believe these crimes are not isolated incidents but the work of structured criminal networks. "These consolidations were made possible through the identification of individuals recurrently involved in multiple cases," Perrée said in a statement. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover financial channels, apprehend additional perpetrators, and dismantle these networks entirely.
As cryptocurrency ownership becomes increasingly visible due to rising asset values—Bitcoin (BTC), for instance, is trading at $64,000 as of April 27, 2026—criminals appear more incentivized to target holders. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has attributed the rise in attacks to the perceived pseudonymity of crypto transactions and the ease with which personal data can be obtained online.
Calls for Vigilance Among Crypto Holders
Perrée urged crypto holders to adopt stricter personal security measures, emphasizing the dangers of "overexposure on social networks that could make them targets." Publicly sharing crypto holdings, for example, can provide attackers with the information they need to identify high-value victims.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov recently suggested that some of these attacks in France may have been fueled by the misuse of crypto investors' tax data, allegedly leaked by a former tax official. While authorities have not confirmed this, it underscores the broader challenges of protecting personal information in a digital age.
For crypto holders, the risks extend far beyond online scams or exchange hacks. Wrench attacks demonstrate how physical security must be part of any robust crypto asset protection strategy. Avoiding unnecessary public disclosure and implementing multi-layered security practices, such as hardware wallets stored in secure locations, can reduce exposure to these threats.
With 88 individuals already charged and investigations ongoing, French authorities appear committed to curbing this alarming trend. However, as crypto values continue to rise, so too does the incentive for criminals to exploit the industry’s vulnerabilities, both digital and physical.