France has recorded another violent robbery targeting a cryptocurrency worker, this time involving armed assailants who held the victim's children hostage before making off with roughly $46,000 in digital assets, according to reports of the latest so-called "wrench attack."
Another Violent Incident in France
The attack marks the newest entry in a growing list of physical assaults aimed at people connected to the crypto industry. In this case, the assailants reportedly targeted a worker's family, holding the individual's children hostage to coerce cooperation and force the transfer of funds.
The perpetrators walked away with approximately $46,000 in cryptocurrency, illustrating how in-person coercion has become a preferred tactic for criminals seeking to bypass the digital security measures that protect online wallets and exchanges.
When attackers can reach your family, no password or cold wallet offers protection.
The term "wrench attack" refers to the idea that sophisticated encryption becomes irrelevant when a criminal can simply use physical threats to extract private keys or force transactions. The concept has moved from a theoretical joke among security experts to a disturbing real-world trend.
France Leads the World in Crypto Kidnappings
France has emerged as the epicenter of these violent crimes, ranking as the worst-hit country globally. More than 70 such attacks have been logged in the first eight months of 2026 alone, underscoring the scale of the problem facing crypto holders in the country.
The surge has raised alarm among industry participants and law enforcement, prompting calls for stronger protections and greater discretion among those who hold or work with significant digital assets. High-profile targets and their families have increasingly become vulnerable.
Security specialists advise crypto holders to take practical precautions to reduce their risk of becoming targets:
- Avoid publicly disclosing crypto holdings or industry affiliations
- Use multi-signature wallets that require multiple parties to authorize transactions
- Limit the amount of assets accessible through any single device or key
- Maintain physical security awareness, especially for family members
As the value locked in cryptocurrency continues to attract criminal attention, experts warn that the frequency of these physical attacks may keep climbing unless holders adopt both digital and real-world defensive measures.