Since the beginning of this year, cryptocurrency holders have suffered losses exceeding $30 million due to violent attacks. A report from Chainalysis indicates that France has recorded the highest number of such incidents.
Source: Chainalysis.In 2025, the amount stolen through wrench attacks reached an unprecedented $58 million. If the current trend continues, 2026 could become the worst year on record.
When accounting for extortion attempts, blocked transfers, and funds that were later frozen or returned, the figures are even higher:
- $316 million in 2024;
- $180 million in 2025;
- $107 million by mid-2026.
Chainalysis considers these numbers to be underreported, as only known cases are included in the statistics.
By the end of June 2026, analysts documented 46 violent crypto incidents worldwide, compared to 40 during the same period in 2025. The proportion of successful attacks dropped to 26%, down from 49% the previous year and 67% in 2024.
Out of the 46 incidents in 2026, 12 resulted in thefts, compared to 47 out of 95 in 2025 and 32 out of 48 in 2024.
Analysts have linked the decline in the share of "successful" cases to a rise in more chaotic, less selective attacks. The nature of these attacks has also shifted: home invasions now account for 37%, while kidnappings make up 52%.
Source: Chainalysis.Since 2023, the United States, Brazil, and Thailand have led in the total number of such incidents, but France remains significantly ahead.
In 2025, France recorded 19 incidents, and by mid-2026, this number had risen to 30.
Chainalysis attributes the surge in violence primarily to data leaks in France. In 2024, reports emerged that a tax office employee in the Paris area allegedly stole and sold files containing personal information of wealthy cryptocurrency holders, including names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Another notable trend is the increase in attacks on the relatives and acquaintances of cryptocurrency holders. At the beginning of 2026, such cases accounted for about 25-30% of all incidents, a stark contrast to nearly nonexistent levels in 2021. In France, the proportion of attacks targeting the close circles of investors exceeded 40%.
On-chain analysis revealed varying levels of preparation among attackers: some immediately transferred funds to centralized exchanges, while others utilized decentralized exchanges, bridges, and laundering services. In the most complex cases, researchers observed signs of connections to broader criminal networks.
It is worth noting that in the second quarter of 2026, analysts identified 83 hacks of crypto protocols, marking the highest number of incidents recorded. The total damage amounted to $755.3 million.