At least 88 people, including 10 minors, have been charged in France over a series of alleged wrench attacks targeting crypto holders, according to Vanessa Perrée, the country’s national prosecutor for organized crime.
In a statement on Friday, Perrée said 75 suspects are being held in pre-trial detention. The arrests are tied to 12 cases currently under investigation by specialized judges at the Paris Judicial Court and overseen by the National Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (PNACO).
Wrench attacks involve the use of physical force or threats to gain access to crypto wallets, often through home invasions, kidnappings or extortion.
Authorities have recorded a sharp rise in such incidents, with PNACO tracking 18 cases in 2024, 67 in 2025 and 47 so far in 2026. Blockchain security firm CertiK previously reported a 75% global increase in these attacks in 2025 compared with the year before.
Perrée said the crimes are particularly serious due to both the harm inflicted on victims and the coercive methods used to force crypto transfers, including charges such as abduction, unlawful detention and organized extortion.
Structured networks behind attacks
French investigators have linked multiple cases after identifying suspects allegedly involved in repeated incidents, pointing to the existence of organized criminal networks.
“These links were established by identifying individuals recurring across several cases, highlighting structured groups behind the attacks,” Perrée said.
She added that investigations remain ongoing to identify all those involved, trace financial flows and dismantle the networks.
Separately, Casa’s chief security officer Jameson Lopp, who tracks wrench attacks globally, has recorded 29 such incidents so far this year, based on data dating back to 2014.
Crypto users urged to avoid flaunting holdings online
Perrée warned that the surge in cases means crypto holders — and their families — should stay vigilant and avoid “overexposure on social networks” that could make them targets. She also cautioned against scammers impersonating law enforcement or judicial authorities to extract sensitive information.
Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs noted last May that wrench attacks are increasing due to the perceived pseudonymity of crypto transactions, the public visibility of wealth, and how easily attackers can gather personal data online.
Meanwhile, Telegram founder Pavel Durov suggested on Friday that the rise in attacks in France may be linked to the alleged misuse of crypto investors’ tax data by a former tax official.
