Violent crypto attacks rise as criminals hunt bigger payouts

Wrench attacks on cryptocurrency holders rose sharply in H1 2026, with blockchain security firm CertiK verifying 52 physical attacks globally, up 33 percent year-on-year. France accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported cases, while home invasions surged from just 1 in H1 2025 to 20 in the first six months of 2026, including a roughly 1 million dollar Bitcoin transfer in a Paris suburb and a 24 million dollar crypto seizure in the UK. Attackers are increasingly combining online intelligence gathering with physical violence, signalling growing organised crime involvement in crypto-related crime worldwide.