Crypto investors lose over $30 million to violent attacks and kidnappings in 2026
Criminals stole more than $30 million worth of cryptocurrency from digital asset holders through physical assaults, kidnappings, and other violent crimes during the first half of 2026. According to Chainalysis, the year is on track to set a new record for losses from so-called "wrench attacks" if the current pace continues.
According to The Block, the figure includes only successful incidents in which attackers managed to obtain victims' crypto assets. By comparison, total losses from such attacks reached $58 million during all of 2025.
Cryptocurrency stolen in physical attacks. Source: Chainalysis.
Chainalysis said France has experienced the sharpest increase in these attacks.
Data breaches fuel the surge
While France saw only isolated incidents before 2025, analysts identified 19 publicly reported cases last year. During the first half of 2026, that number rose to 30, although French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau previously said authorities had recorded more than 70 such crimes.
According to researchers, one factor behind the surge may have been a data breach. A French tax agency employee allegedly stole and sold information on wealthy cryptocurrency holders in 2024, including names, addresses, phone numbers, tax records, and details of their digital assets.
Another contributing factor was the breach of crypto tax platform Waltio, which disclosed in January 2026 that data belonging to roughly 50,000 users had been exposed.
Relatives increasingly become targets
According to Chainalysis, criminals are increasingly targeting relatives and family members of cryptocurrency holders instead of the investors themselves.
Such attacks were almost nonexistent in 2021, but by early 2026 they accounted for 25% to 30% of all recorded incidents. In France, the share exceeds 40%.
The nature of the attacks has also changed. Home invasions rose from 14% of recorded incidents in 2025 to 37% in 2026, while kidnappings now account for approximately 52% of all cases.
At the same time, attackers are succeeding less often. According to Chainalysis, 67% of attacks resulted in stolen funds in 2024, compared with 49% in 2025 and just 26% during the first half of 2026. Analysts attribute the decline to a growing number of less sophisticated criminal groups and greater awareness among potential victims.
The increase in violent attacks comes as the crypto industry continues to face broader security challenges.
Researchers recently reported that crypto projects suffered a record 83 successful hacks during the second quarter of 2026, resulting in approximately $755 million in stolen digital assets.
Earlier, analysts warned that losses linked to a vulnerability affecting Coldcard hardware wallets may have reached $130 million. According to researchers, the attacks were tied to a flaw in a 2021 firmware version that allowed attackers to reconstruct users' private keys and steal their Bitcoin.
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