$41M in Losses as Crypto Wrench Attacks Hit Record High in 2025

[_act_]

Many of you know that we really discussed about different incidents of wrench attacks in 2025 on this forum, to the point that I remember that one resulted to death.

72 verified crypto “wrench attacks” happened last year, up 75% from 2024. Confirmed financial losses in 2025 exceeded $40.9 million, up 44% year over year, with kidnapping the most common attack method and physical assaults jumping 250%.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/41m-losses-crypto-wrench-attacks-140102565.html

We have discussed about the reason privacy is important. And for some people, security is very important if they are publicly known.

This is not what I will go further into to make explanations about as we have known about it on many threads that I created last year about it. This is just to let you know about the reported incidents of wrench attacks involving cryptocurrencies in 2025.

[Odusko]

Privacy is still the key, personal security one thing is to keep your coins off exchange and into self custody through privacy practices are the way out of physical attacks, 70%+ increased in crypto related physical thefts, several of those threads here in bitcointalk and outside the forum serves as warning and wake up call for crypto whale's to take privacy seriously in the year 2026.
Europe the most hit in those attacks in 2025 accounting for about 40% of the global attacks, followed by France with the kidnapped of ledger founder, this prove that public information is a risk to crypto holders.

[SFR10]

to the point that I remember that one resulted to death.

IIRC, there were more than one incident in the past year alone ^{[unfortunately]}.

and wake up call for crypto whale's to take privacy seriously in the year 2026.

You have a point, but that's easier said than done ^{[especially for those who are somewhat known]} when there are platforms that actively monitor every single one of their moves.
^{- BTW, I don't understand even though they can afford to hire a bodyguard, most of them don't do it!}

[Zwei]

We have discussed about the reason privacy is important. And for some people, security is very important if they are publicly known.

even if you are not publicly known, if you have a lot of crypto, you should keep your mouth shut about it. a lot of people keep talking about how much crypto they have as a flix or something, they are just asking for trouble tbh.
maybe tell one or two family members you trust what to do in case something happens to you, other than that no one else should know how much crypto you have.

^{- BTW, I don't understand even though they can afford to hire a bodyguard, most of them don't do it!}

probably because they underestimate the risk of getting jumped or kidnapped.

[Yamane_Keto]

These might indicate increased interest in Bitcoin or cryptocurrency use, but incidents of physical assault and kidnapping linked to cash far outnumber those involving cryptocurrencies. Privacy and the use of Bitcoin passphrase (or "25th word") may reduce the success rate of these attacks.

[Coyster]

I think a lot of these incidents happened in France, if i remember correctly, though law enforcement were able to apprehend the assailants on some occasions. I can only imagine how terrible it is to get kidnapped and beaten until you give up your seed phrase, not a position to be in, definitely not.

That said, it is advisable to add a passphrase to your seed phrase. Taking this action could possibly save you from a $5 wrench attack, if you can successfully make your assailants believe what you have in the base wallet is all that you have. Difficult but possible.

[albon]

As time goes on and more investors and newcomers join this industry, the rate of attacks is bound to increase especially given the lack of awareness among newcomers.

$41M is a huge amount and a clear indication of the seriousness of wrench attacks.. One might assume that scammers worst actions are limited to phishing links or malware but this confirms that the investor himself could be targeted and may face physical attacks in real life not just digital threats.. While decentralization have added a layer of privacy to transactions in this space ,many still prefer to flaunt their wealth publicly, which poses a threat to them without their realizing it.

[tabas]

Keep yourself lowkey and low profile. You don't have to expose yourself that you cry out telling people that you are holding a lot of crypto assets. Keep it to yourself and let yourself enjoy the fruits of your holdings. There's no need to brag about it and that's why whoever does that are the target of these bad people and they get to plan out how they'll try to steal those assets from their potential victims. If you want to live peacefully, let no one know what you are up to and just enjoy things. Enjoy good food, the money you've earned from this market. Don't attract evil eye to yourself.

[robelneo]

..This is just to let you know about the reported incidents of wrench attacks involving cryptocurrencies in 2025.

It's a growing concern, and we have to start evaluating how people perceive us as an investor because you could be the next target. Criminals are good at finding prospects, and they can easily spot an easy target because of social media.
High-profile individuals do not have social media accounts or, if they do, they limit their posts and apply the best security and privacy features.
I think it's time to limit our exposure to social media about our profit, it's not worth it if we put our safety and our family at risk.