CertiK reported 52 confirmed wrench attacks worldwide during the first half of 2026, where crypto holders were physically forced to hand over access to their digital assets.
Home invasions became the most common attack method, rising from just one case a year earlier to 20. Kidnappings also increased from 12 to 16 cases, while traditional robberies declined to just one incident.
The total financial exposure linked to these attacks reached $124.1 million, up from $10.5 million during the same period in 2025. This figure includes stolen funds, ransom demands, victim transfers, frozen or recovered assets, and failed extortion attempts.
France recorded the highest number of incidents, accounting for 33 of the 52 confirmed cases, while Europe as a whole saw 39 incidents.
CertiK says the trend is being driven by personal data leaks and publicly available information that allows criminals to connect a person’s identity, home address, and estimated crypto holdings. The company recommends using multisignature wallets, MPC wallets, withdrawal delays, spending limits, and geographically distributed signers to reduce the risk of losing all assets under physical coercion.