Bitcoin boom fuels rise in violent ‘wrench attacks’

Bitcoin’s surge to record highs in 2025, driven by institutional adoption and US policy shifts, has coincided with a sharp rise in violent attacks targeting crypto holders.

The rally followed renewed political support for digital assets, culminating in **Bitcoin** reaching a peak above $126,000 in October.

As crypto gained mainstream legitimacy through spot ETFs and corporate balance sheet adoption, individual holders became more visible targets.

Criminals have increasingly turned to so-called “wrench attacks”, using physical force to extract private keys rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities.

Analysts say improved liquidity and regulated off-ramps have made stolen bitcoin easier to launder than in earlier market cycles.

Attackers now rely heavily on open-source intelligence, tracking social media posts, luxury purchases and public blockchain data.

France emerged as an early hotspot, with several high-profile kidnappings linked to perceived crypto wealth.

In one case, masked attackers abducted the father of a suspected crypto millionaire and demanded an $8 million ransom in digital assets.