According to a CertiK Skynet report on Wrench Attacks in 2025, there was an increase in 2025 compared to 2024, especially in Europe.
A $5 Wrench Attack is a physical attack directed at a person (violence, intimidation, kidnapping) to force them to hand over private keys or cryptocurrency seeds through force and threats. The increase in these attacks is due to the huge archives created through KYC on exchanges (data breaches) and government tax data collection. In France, a tax office employee in Bobigny (Seine-Saint-Denis) was arrested for using tax software to identify cryptocurrency holders and selling the data on the black market and for organizing crime.

STATISTICS
- 72 verified cases in 2025 (versus 41 in 2024, +75%).

- Estimated $40.9 million in stolen cryptocurrency (compared to $28.3 million in 2024, +44%).

- Physical assault and coercion are growing rapidly (with a 250% increase in direct physical attacks compared to the previous year).

- Approximately 40% of global attacks in 2025 occurred in Europe. France recorded the highest number of individual cases (19 incidents), more than the United States (8). In North America, there was a decrease in the percentage share of cases (from 36.6% in 2024 to 12.5% ​​in 2025). Asia accounted for approximately 33% of reports.

- Attackers use OSINT and social engineering to identify and locate victims before the attack. Another attack vector is data breaches (containing KYC and personal data).

- Locations where the attacks occur: private homes, streets, parking lots, hotels, Airbnb, short-term kidnappings (1 to 3 days).

WHO IS AFFECTED?
70–80%: retail/private individuals.

15–20%: crypto entrepreneurs, founders, well-known developers.

<5%: employees of exchanges or structured entities.

Observed Signs:
- Display of crypto wealth (social media, events, interviews).

- Leaking of personal information (KYC, location, etc.).

- Social engineering.

- Public presence (meetups, podcasts, Twitter/X).

- Known connection to self-custody wallets.

METHODS USED
- Kidnapping (25).

- Violent Assault (14).

- Robbery (9).

- Home Invasion (6).

- Torture/Ransom (5).

CONCLUSIONS
Be careful where you leave your personal data (KYC). Regulatory bodies (governments/states) and tax agencies have no interest in protecting you; their only concern is monitoring and taxes. Today, it's all too easy to leave documents, residence permits, drivers' licenses and ID cards everywhere, but the risk is your health.

Here you can find an archive of all documented $5 Wrench Attack cases: Known Physical Bitcoin Attacks.

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