Physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders shifted dramatically in the first half of 2026, with home invasions emerging as the dominant method used by criminals to force victims into handing over their digital assets, according to new data from blockchain security firm CertiK.
A Sharp Rise in Home Invasions
CertiK's findings show that home invasions surged to 20 recorded cases in the first six months of 2026, a steep climb from just a single incident during the same period a year earlier. The trend marks a notable evolution in so-called "wrench attacks" — a term describing coercion tactics where criminals physically threaten or harm someone until they surrender their crypto holdings or private keys.
The shift toward targeting victims in their homes suggests attackers are becoming more calculated, seeking out locations where they can apply prolonged pressure away from public view. Unlike opportunistic street robberies, home invasions often indicate advance planning and knowledge of a victim's wealth.
When your front door becomes the weakest link in your crypto security, no cold wallet can save you.
France at the Center
Geographically, the data revealed a striking concentration of activity in France, which accounted for 33 of the 52 verified wrench attacks tracked during the period. That figure places the country far ahead of any other location in the tally, raising questions about why French crypto holders have become such frequent targets.
The clustering of incidents in one nation points to possible local factors — from visible displays of crypto wealth to organized criminal networks that have identified digital asset owners as lucrative marks. Security researchers have long warned that the pseudonymous nature of blockchain does little to protect holders once their identities and holdings become known offline.
What Holders Can Do
The rise in physical coercion underscores that operational security for crypto users extends well beyond software safeguards. Experts frequently recommend a range of precautions to reduce exposure:
- Avoid publicly disclosing holdings or flaunting wealth on social media
- Use multisignature setups that prevent a single person from moving funds under duress
- Consider decoy wallets that hold only small amounts for coercion scenarios
- Keep personal address and identity information private
CertiK's data serves as a reminder that as crypto adoption grows, so too does the physical risk to those known to hold significant assets. The escalation in home invasions in particular signals that criminals are willing to go to greater lengths — and take greater risks — to seize digital wealth directly from its ow