Wrench Attacks Against Crypto Holders Are Rising and More Violent
Reported physical wrench attacks targeting crypto holders are increasing in frequency and severity globally, correlating with market capitalization.Summary
Analysis of data compiled by security advocate Jameson Lopp shows a steady rise in reported "wrench attacks," which involve physical violence or threats to steal cryptocurrency. Haseeb Qureshi's analysis categorized these incidents into five levels, indicating that the average attack has become more violent recently. Geographically, Western Europe and parts of the Asia-Pacific region have seen the sharpest increases, though North America has also seen an absolute rise. The frequency of these violent incidents correlates strongly with crypto market capitalization, with about 45% of the variation explained by market cap alone. However, when normalized against user growth, crypto ownership has expanded faster than violence, suggesting that on a per-user basis, crypto was riskier in 2015 and 2018. Qureshi stressed the seriousness of the trend and advised high-risk individuals to invest in personal security. Separately, the article notes that crypto phishing losses linked to wallet drainers dropped significantly in 2025, though phishing activity remains tied to market cycles.
(Source：Cointelegraph)