Europe sees ‘hyperconcentration’ of crypto wrench attacks as losses hit $101M

According to CertiK, crypto wrench attacks—physical extortion to access digital assets—have caused $101 million in losses within the first four months of 2026. Europe is the primary target, accounting for 82% of incidents, with France emerging as a specific epicenter due to the high density of crypto executives and frequent data leaks. These attacks often involve amateur criminal teams recruited via messaging apps, moving toward a data-driven model where physical surveillance is replaced by stolen personal information. Experts suggest that as digital security protocols improve, criminals are increasingly targeting the human link through physical coercion.

(Source：Cointelegraph)