French Authorities Indict 88 Over Surge in Violent Crypto 'Wrench Attacks'

Gate News message, April 28 — French authorities have indicted 88 people following a surge in violent crypto-related kidnappings known as "wrench attacks." Named after a popular xkcd webcomic, wrench attacks involve criminals using violence, intimidation, or confinement to compel crypto holders to reveal their private keys or passwords.

France has become a hotbed for such robberies, with the National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PNACO) reporting more than 135 incidents since 2023. According to the Organized Crime Information, Intelligence and Strategic Analysis Service of the Judicial Police (SIRASCO), these kidnappings are often coordinated by organizers abroad who work with recruiters in France. The recruiters connect organizers with young people with criminal records who conduct online intimidation and physical attacks.

Victims are typically men aged 20 to 35 involved with digital assets as investors, entrepreneurs, or influencers. Blockchain security firm CertiK has characterized physical attacks against crypto holders as a "structural threat" to digital asset ownership.

CertiK documented a 75% surge in wrench attacks during 2025, with 71 incidents resulting in losses exceeding $40.9 million—a 44% year-on-year increase.