Violent attacks targeting crypto holders resulted in an estimated $30 million in stolen funds during the first half of 2026, according to Chainalysis. Because that figure counts only successful thefts, the research firm said the year is on track to surpass 2025’s record total of $58 million if the current pace continues.
France has been a major driver of the increase. Chainalysis said the country recorded 30 known crypto-related violent incidents by mid-2026, making it one of the clearest hotspots for so-called wrench attacks, in which victims are coerced into handing over access to digital assets.
France’s case count accelerated sharply
France had seen only a small number of crypto-linked violent incidents before 2025, but the trend escalated quickly. The count rose to 19 cases in 2025 and then reached 30 by the middle of 2026, while authorities have documented 77 incidents overall and are planning a rapid alert system aimed at protecting people seen as being at risk in the sector.
The monthly pace also increased. Chainalysis said France averaged about 1.9 attacks per month in 2025, then roughly 4.6 per month in the first half of 2026, underlining how quickly the threat environment changed.
Investigators linked the surge to data exposure
According to the report, investigators traced the rise in France to a 2024 data breach. A French tax official allegedly stole and sold dossiers on high-net-worth crypto holders that included names, addresses, phone numbers, and details of their holdings.
Chainalysis highlighted two developments in January 2026 that may have intensified the problem. One was the tax-leak case becoming public through authorities, which the firm said may have pushed criminals to act more quickly on the stolen information. The other was a separate disclosure from tax-reporting company Waltio, which said a breach affected about 50,000 users and created a new pool of potential targets.
Chainalysis Head of Research Eric Jardine said centralized databases containing sensitive information about crypto holders remain attractive targets for criminals. He argued that tighter controls around such data are one practical way to reduce the risks.
Attack patterns shifted even as success rates fell
The report said more attacks are being attempted, but a smaller share is ending in a successful theft. Through late June, only 26% of attempts had succeeded, down from 49% in 2025 and 67% in 2024.
Tactics also changed. Home invasions accounted for 37% of incidents in 2026, up from 14% a year earlier, while kidnappings remained the most common form at 52%. Chainalysis also found that attackers are increasingly using relatives or acquaintances as leverage. Globally, family members or close contacts were involved in 25% to 30% of cases, and the share was above 40% in France.
Other countries and the next confirmed step
Outside France, Chainalysis said the highest cumulative incident totals since 2023 were recorded in the United States, Brazil, and Thailand. In Thailand’s case, the report said the country’s crypto-friendly environment, along with its large expat and tourist population, contributes to a broader pool of possible victims.
The clearest confirmed response described in the report is in France, where authorities plan to roll out a rapid alert system for people considered vulnerable to these attacks. Chainalysis also said leaked personal data remains a central factor behind the continued rise in incidents, even as a lower percentage of attempts are succeeding.
Source: beincrypto.com