A robbery in Finestrat, Spain, has added to growing concerns about violent attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders.
Spanish police arrested a 29-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman after a victim reported being restrained and assaulted inside his rented apartment. The attackers allegedly forced the victim to transfer digital assets while also taking cash and gold.
The total value of the stolen property was estimated at nearly €20,000. Authorities have not disclosed how much of that amount was cryptocurrency or which digital assets were transferred. Police said the woman had gained the victim’s trust several months before the incident.
The case is an example of a so-called “wrench attack,” a term used for crimes in which criminals use violence or threats to gain access to cryptocurrency. These incidents can involve home invasions, kidnappings, forced transfers, or other forms of physical coercion.
Europe Records a Sharp Increase in Crypto Attacks
The Finestrat case comes as research points to a wider rise in crypto-related violence. CertiK recorded 52 verified attacks worldwide during the first half of 2026, compared with 39 during the same period in 2025, representing a 33.3% increase.
Europe recorded an especially large rise, with 39 incidents in the first half of 2026 compared with 14 a year earlier. France accounted for 33 of those cases, making it the main source of the region’s increase.
Other forms of violence have also become more common. CertiK recorded 20 home invasions during the first half of 2026, compared with just one during the same period in 2025. Kidnappings increased from 12 to 16.
Several high-profile cases illustrate the risks. In 2025, Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner were abducted in France, with the kidnapper’s demanding cryptocurrency.
In April 2026, attackers in France’s Yonne department abducted a mother and her 11-year-old son while demanding $400,000 in crypto.
Why France Is at the Center of the Trend
France’s position in the data may be connected to how easily criminals can identify people involved in cryptocurrency. Chainalysis says digital wealth can be accessible through phones or wallet devices, while personal information can reveal potential targets.
Public exposure may also play a role. A TRM Labs report, prepared with London’s Metropolitan Police, found public exposure in 47% of identified cases. This included visible crypto holdings, trading activity, or links to cryptocurrency businesses.
However, the numbers should be treated carefully. Different researchers use different definitions, while police records may classify incidents as robbery or kidnapping rather than crypto crimes. Underreporting and increasing public awareness can also affect the figures.
The available evidence points to a growing security concern, but the full scale of crypto wrench attacks across Europe remains difficult to measure.
