France Faces Wave of Violent 'Wrench Attacks' Targeting Crypto Investors

A 25-year-old suspect has been arrested following an attempted armed robbery in Saint-Jean-de-Védas, where a man posing as a delivery driver attempted to extort a cryptocurrency investor at gunpoint. The incident ended without injury after the victim overpowered the assailant during a struggle in which a shot was fired. This event is part of a broader surge in so-called 'wrench attacks'—violent crimes where perpetrators bypass digital security by forcing victims to reveal seed phrases or transfer funds. France has emerged as a primary hotspot for these incidents, recording at least 41 crypto-linked kidnappings and home invasions so far this year, averaging one attack every 2.5 days. The trend follows a 75% global increase in such attacks in 2025, which saw 72 total cases. Security experts suggest that criminals are increasingly utilizing leaked customer data to identify high-net-worth targets. A notable breach in January involving Global-e, a partner of hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, exposed names and physical addresses of buyers, potentially providing a roadmap for attackers. Other recent crimes in France include a plot to kidnap a magistrate to extort funds from a partner and a fake police raid resulting in the theft of nearly $1 million in Bitcoin. In response, French Minister Jean-Didier Berger announced the launch of a government prevention platform to help digital asset holders mitigate these physical security risks.