French judicial authorities have formally charged 88 suspects, including 10 minors, for their involvement in a series of violent “wrench attacks” targeting cryptocurrency holders. These attacks often involve home invasions, kidnappings, and physical assault to force victims to hand over access to their digital wallets. Vanessa Perrée, the National Prosecutor for Organized Crime (PNAC), confirmed that 75 suspects are currently in pre-trial detention across 12 cases being investigated by judges at the Paris Court.
Scale and Organized Nature of the Crimes
Investigations reveal that these are not isolated incidents but part of multi-layered criminal networks. Some suspects have been linked to multiple cases, suggesting cross-regional coordination. Data from the French National Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (ONCLCO) shows a sharp rise: 18 incidents in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 already recorded in the first half of 2026. The accelerating trend underscores the growing physical threat to crypto holders.
Modus Operandi and Victim Plight
“Wrench attacks” take their name from the grim metaphor of beating a victim with a wrench until they surrender their private keys. In practice, criminals gather intelligence from social media, leaked exchange data, or underground forums to identify high-value targets, then execute violent coercions. Many victims fear reporting due to concern that their assets, once retrieved, could mark them again. ONCLCO reports that some attackers use stun devices or knives, elevating the violence beyond typical property crime.
Judicial Response and Prevention Advice
The French Ministry of Justice has established a dedicated task force to coordinate cross-jurisdictional investigations. PNAC is working closely with Paris investigating judges to trace fund flows and dismantle crime chains. Prosecutor Perrée stated: “We will apply the full force of the law against these new violent crimes to protect digital asset users.” Security experts advise crypto holders to avoid publicly flaunting holdings, use multi-signature wallets, and store the majority of assets in offline cold storage. Regularly monitoring account activity and enabling location-based restrictions can also reduce exposure risk.
As the Web3 ecosystem expands globally, physical attacks on individual investors are becoming a blind spot for regulators. France’s latest action provides a judicial coordination model for other jurisdictions, but many victims worldwide remain silent. The safety of digital assets requires not only technical safeguards but also synchronized efforts from law enforcement, legislation, and community awareness.