Home invasions became the dominant type of wrench attack in 2024 — CertiK analysis
In the first half of 2024, the cryptocurrency market faced an alarming trend: the number of so-called wrench attacks—physical assaults aimed at forcing victims to transfer digital assets—rose by 33% compared to the same period last year. A total of 52 incidents were recorded, with home invasions being the key driver of this increase.
The number of home attacks surged from one case in the first half of 2023 to 20 in 2024. This means that nearly 40% of all wrench attacks are now carried out directly in victims' residences. Such a sharp spike indicates that attackers are increasingly choosing tactics of direct pressure on cryptocurrency wallet owners in their personal space, where the victim is most vulnerable.
The total amount associated with these incidents reached $124.1 million. This underscores that these are not petty thefts but targeted operations aimed at large asset holders. Geographically, France leads, accounting for 33 attacks, or over 63% of the total. Clearly, local criminal groups have adapted their methods to the specifics of the European market.
As a professional analyst, I see in this data a clear signal for the community: physical security is becoming no less important than protection against digital threats. Storing significant amounts in cryptocurrency requires not only strong passwords and cold wallets but also measures to conceal information about your assets in the public domain. The market is moving toward tightening, and ignoring this reality could come at a high cost.