CertiK Analytics: Home invasions became the dominant type of wrench attack in 2024
The analysis of the cryptoasset security market for the first half of 2024 has revealed a concerning trend: the number of so-called wrench attacks — physical assaults aimed at forcibly extracting cryptocurrency — increased by 33% compared to the same period last year. A total of 52 such incidents were recorded.
The most significant change was a sharp increase in home invasions. While only one such attack was recorded last year, the number reached 20 in the current period. This indicates that criminals are shifting from street robberies to more planned and dangerous actions targeting the homes of cryptoasset owners.
The total amount of damage associated with these incidents amounted to $124.1 million. Notably, the geographic distribution of attacks is extremely uneven: France accounted for 33 of the 52 cases. This may be due to both a high concentration of wealthy cryptocurrency holders in the region and insufficient legal protection against such crimes.
Expert Opinion
The rise in home invasions is a direct signal that traditional methods of storing assets, such as cold wallets and seed phrases on paper, are becoming vulnerable to physical violence. Investors should consider using multi-signature solutions and depositing large sums in custodial services with additional protection against forced access. The market must adapt to this new reality, otherwise we risk seeing even more grim statistics in the second half of the year.