French authorities have indicted 88 people — including ten minors — in a sweeping crackdown on so-called “wrench attacks,” a violent trend targeting crypto holders, France’s national prosecutor for organized crime, Vanessa Perrée, said today. The cases stem from 12 investigations overseen by specialized judges at the Paris Judicial Court; 75 of the accused remain in pre-trial detention as investigators probe the networks behind the assaults. What are wrench attacks? They’re physical coercion — from home invasions and kidnappings to extortion and forced wallet access — used to make victims hand over crypto assets. Prosecutors stress the severity of the crimes, citing abduction, detention and the “harm caused to individuals” as key aggravating factors. Authorities say the phenomenon is rapidly escalating in France. PNACO tracked 18 incidents in 2024, jumped to 67 in 2025, and has recorded 47 so far in 2026. Investigators have already merged multiple cases after finding repeat links among suspects, pointing to “the existence of structured networks.” Work is ongoing to identify ringleaders and trace money flows. The spike echoes global warnings from security firms and researchers. Blockchain security firm CertiK reported a 75% rise in physical crypto attacks worldwide in 2025. Casa security chief Jameson Lopp, who has tracked wrench attacks since 2014, lists 29 incidents so far this year — five of them in April. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs attributes much of the increase to criminals connecting public indicators of wealth with personal data scraped online, and to misconceptions about the privacy of crypto transfers. Telegram founder Pavel Durov added fuel to the debate, suggesting the rise in attacks in France may be linked to alleged misuse of crypto investor tax data by a former tax official — a claim French authorities are examining as part of their broader inquiries. What this means for crypto holders: prosecutors urged users and their families to curb public displays of wealth and avoid “overexposure on social networks” that can turn owners into targets. Law enforcement says it will continue efforts to identify all perpetrators, follow the financial trails and dismantle the groups behind these violent campaigns. As France pursues prosecutions, the developments are a stark reminder that blockchain security also requires real-world safety measures — and that digital anonymity does not eliminate physical risk. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news