In 2025, Bitcoin wrench attacks—physical assaults forcing victims to surrender crypto—are set to more than double the worst year on record. Surging Bitcoin prices and rising organized crime involvement drive this wave of violence.
Physical attacks on Bitcoin holders, known as “wrench attacks,” are poised to more than double the previous worst year recorded in 2021, driven by Bitcoin’s soaring market value and growing criminal interest.
By July 2025, 35 incidents of physical intimidation and violence targeting cryptocurrency owners have been reported, nearly matching the entire total of 36 attacks recorded during the last major bull run, according to Chainalysis. The year could conclude with over 70 such assaults, marking an unprecedented spike in violent crime against crypto holders .
These wrench attacks involve criminals forcibly coercing victims—through threats, kidnappings, and home invasions—to surrender access to their Bitcoin holdings.
The trend has intensified alongside Bitcoin’s rapid appreciation, which reached an all-time high exceeding $122,000 in 2025.
Experts point to a combination of factors escalating this risk: the perceived anonymity of cryptocurrencies, public displays of crypto wealth, and the increasing involvement of organized crime syndicates targeting high-value investors .
Crypto Price Surge Feeds Opportunistic Attacks
The correlation between Bitcoin’s rising value and the surge in physical assaults is clear. Criminals are motivated by the prospect of extracting immediate payoff from victims presumed to have substantial assets.
The “wrench” method bypasses the technical challenge of hacking by relying on brute force and intimidation, effectively demanding direct access to wallets or private keys.
Chainalysis highlights that despite blockchain’s transparency allowing for traceability—and, in some cases, freezing of stolen digital assets—criminals continue these attacks, believing physical threats circumvent digital safeguards.
Moreover, the ease of gathering personal information online and the visibility of crypto affluence have made investors increasingly vulnerable. The situation reflects a natural criminal evolution, with organized crime groups adapting violent tactics historically used in conventional theft to the cryptocurrency space .
Law Enforcement, Products Could Curb Violence
While the trend is alarming, several factors might mitigate future risks. The popularization of investment vehicles such as Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) enables stakeholders to gain crypto exposure without holding private keys, removing the immediate physical target.
Additionally, continued law enforcement efforts focusing on crypto-related crimes may deter offenders exploiting the perceived impunity of digital assets.
The traceability of blockchain transactions also represents a growing hurdle for criminals seeking to launder stolen funds. Combined, these measures could disrupt the appeal of wrench attacks if consistently enforced .
Despite this, the true scale of injections remains uncertain. Many incidents likely go unreported due to victims fearing retaliation or doubting police effectiveness.
Localized handling of such cases also keeps the issue partially obscured from public datasets, suggesting the real number of attacks could be higher than documented
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Wrench Attacks on Bitcoin Holders Surge in 2025
Physical attacks on Bitcoin holders spike as BTC soars past $122K, with criminals targeting wallets. ETFs and law enforcement may reduce risks.