Surge in Wrench Attacks Targeting BTC Holders
According to a report by blockchain security auditor CertiK, “wrench attacks”—physical assaults targeting crypto users or their relatives—have significantly increased over the past year. In 2025, 72 confirmed cases were recorded worldwide, with these attacks rising by approximately 75% compared to 2024. CertiK stated that these attacks are no longer rare occurrences, noting confirmed losses of $40.9 million, but the actual figure may be higher due to unreported cases. In addition to direct losses, the attacks are changing industry behaviors through psychological and reputational impacts; founders and high-value BTC individuals are turning to anonymity and relocation.
France Leads European BTC Cases
France had the most cases with 19 attacks, while Europe accounted for about 40% of total cases. High-profile incidents include the January kidnapping of Ledger wallet founder David Balland and his wife Amandine, and the May kidnapping and torture of an Italian crypto owner in New York. SatoshiLabs founder Alena Vranova stated that at least one Bitcoiner is kidnapped or worse every week. CertiK described 2025 as a turning point where physical violence has become the primary threat in the crypto ecosystem.
BTC Market Decline and Technical Risks
BTC fell below $80,000 for the first time in April 2025, surpassing MicroStrategy’s cost basis ($76,037) since October 2023; this volatility could trigger wrench attacks. Current price: $78,619. 24h change: +2.29%. RSI: 27.87 (Oversold). Trend: Downtrend, Supertrend: Bearish. EMA20: $86,362.
- Supports: S1 $74,604 (strong, 75% score), S2 $77,398 (medium).
- Resistances: R1 $79,396 (strong, 72%), R2 $83,548 (strong).
Source: https://en.coinotag.com/certik-wrench-attacks-up-75-btc-risk
