Wrench attacks against crypto investors can break the 2021 record

Bitcoin’s “wrench” attack – a violent form of cryptocurrency theft – could see its worst year in 2025, along with criminals stabbed by the massive amount of Bitcoin market, according to the chainalysis.
“Wrench attacks” refers to a situation in which physical force or intimidation is used to force a victim to surrender their crypto holders, and the chainalysis said that at 35 attacks recorded in July, the numbers were on the track “with potential twice in many physical attacks such as the next top year.”
The latter Bull Market Peak in 2021 was the worst year recorded, with a total of 36 recorded attacks against crypto holders, according to a list Sinamabi by Jameson Lopp, a cypherpunk and co-founder of self-customial firm Casa in GitHub.
In communicating with cointelegraph, a chainalysis spokesman said with clear evidence of a marked increase in violent crime In connection with crypto handling, especially kidnappings, ransom requests, home raids and targeting private holders of digital ownership since 2023.
Crypto prices slightly blame
Chainalysis blames part of increasing frequency of attacks on the rising price of Bitcoin (Btc), which has been able to “additional opportunist physical attack against prominent crypto holders.”
Bitcoin has Clocked multiple new all-time highs in 2025with the current top of more than $ 122,000, hit by Monday, According to Two Nansen data.
The chainalysis on cointelegraph said there are many factors that contribute to this trend.
“The noted that crypto’s anonymous and liquidity has increased in public visibility, and the growing involvement of traditional organized crime networks, which is based on the rapid price appreciation of the owners such as Bitcoin,” the spokesman said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF08SO8TLEI
Chainysis CEO Jonathan Levin Speculated during the 2025 Consensus Crypto Conference In May, covered by the cointelegraph, whose criminal organizations may be kidnapped by crypto holders, thinking that crypto is not monitored.
ETFs, law enforcement may hinder attacks
“As with any crime, it is difficult to predict its future trends. However, since there is a relationship between increasing violent crimes and increasing bitcoin prices, it can be assumed that violent crimes are likely to continue in a bull market,” said Chainalysis spokesman.
However, some factors can help prevent thieves, such as widespread availability of structured market products such as Bitcoin Funds exchanged by exchange And exchange-exchanged products, which allow people to invest in crypto without holding the underlying property itself, they said.
The transparency of Blockchain technology It also means that funds stolen in crypto will be monitored and, in the case of stablecoins, MA -Freeze.
“Continued law enforcement activity can also act as a barrier and break the current trend we have noticed in the data,” they said.
“Expected, this monitoring and potential freezability, when in conjunction with the same law enforcement action, means that the given actors will know people and the crypto theft is ineffective.”
Real number of victims of unknown
LOPP’s list is an account of wrench attacks since 2014, when a person is said to have tried to textort Computer scientist and cryptography Hal Finney.
Related: French police have made more arrests in case of kidnappo kidnapping
The chainalysis spokesman said that while “these cases remain rarely rare,” compared to hacks and other digital robbery, there is no concrete way to determine how many attacks are happening each year.
“People may not only report the incident, either fear of revenge or a feeling of hopelessness, suggesting evidence can be described,” they said.
“Reported cases can also be handled locally without excessive publicity, which means the case is not noticeable in a dataset of public incidents.”
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