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French authorities have indicted at least 88 people over alleged wrench attacks targeting crypto owners.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The group includes ten minors, said<\/a> Vanessa Perr\u00e9e, France\u2019s national prosecutor for organized crime.\u00a0<\/p>\n The cases relate to 12 investigations handled by specialized judges at the Paris Judicial Court. Prosecutors said 75 of the accused remain in pre-trial detention as law enforcement continues to examine the networks behind the attacks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wrench attacks involve physical threats or violence used to force victims to transfer crypto assets. French authorities have linked such crimes to home invasions, kidnappings, extortion attempts and forced wallet access.<\/p>\n PNACO has recorded a sharp rise in these cases. The agency tracked 18 incidents in 2024, 67 in 2025 and 47 so far in 2026, showing how physical crypto-related crime has grown in France.<\/p>\n Perr\u00e9e said the crimes carry serious legal weight because they involve abduction, detention, extortion and attempts to force crypto transfers. She said the acts were serious because of \u201cthe harm caused to individuals\u201d and the methods used.<\/p>\n Investigators have merged several cases after finding repeated links between some suspects. Perr\u00e9e said these links revealed \u201cthe existence of structured networks,\u201d with authorities still working to identify the organizers and money flows.<\/p>\n The rise in wrench attacks has renewed warnings for crypto holders. Perr\u00e9e urged users and relatives to stay careful and avoid \u201coverexposure on social networks\u201d that may make them targets.<\/p>\n Security experts have also warned that public displays of crypto wealth can create personal risk. Blockchain security firm CertiK said physical crypto attacks worldwide rose 75% in 2025 from the previous year.<\/p>\n Casa chief security officer Jameson Lopp has tracked<\/a> wrench attacks worldwide since 2014. His public list shows 29 incidents so far this year, including five cases recorded in April.<\/p>\n Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs said such attacks have increased<\/a> because criminals can connect public wealth signals with personal data found online. The firm also cited the perceived privacy of crypto transfers as a factor behind the rise.<\/p>\n\n
Crypto owners face physical extortion threats<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Security warnings grow for crypto users<\/strong><\/h2>\n