A new report from blockchain security firm CertiK counts 52 verified “wrench attacks” on cryptocurrency holders in the first half of 2026 — a 33% rise over the same six months in 2025. Total financial exposure reached $124.1 million, nearly twelve times the amount lost in H1 2025. The sharp jump isn’t from a new technical hack; it’s from old-fashioned robbery.
The term “wrench attack” describes what happens when criminals skip the keyboard entirely and show up in person, using violence or the threat of it to force someone to transfer their digital assets on the spot. Home invasions jumped from just one case in H1 2025 to 20 in H1 2026 — making it the most common method for the first time. Europe was hit hardest, accounting for 75% of all incidents, with France alone responsible for 33 of the 52 cases. Researchers point to social media as the main way attackers identify targets: public posts showing off crypto gains, photos from crypto conferences, or even just a Twitter bio announcing involvement in digital assets can put you on someone’s radar.