According to TechFlow, citing a June 15 report from Decrypt, a 32-year-old man from Nancy, France has been formally charged over his alleged role in a so-called crypto “wrench attack” targeting cryptocurrency holders. The charges he faces include attempted armed extortion, attempted kidnapping by an organized group, and criminal conspiracy.
Attackers allegedly posed as police
The report said three attackers impersonated police officers and carried out a violent attack inside the home of a couple. Their alleged goal was to steal cryptocurrency worth $20,000. Police seized plastic zip ties and a 5-euro banknote at the scene, while witnesses said the attackers were carrying an Uzi submachine gun.
The incident followed a data breach at Waltio, a French crypto tax platform. Information linked to about 50,000 users was exposed, including email addresses, trading profit and loss data, and cryptocurrency balance details. The case connects a violent physical attack with the exposure of user information tied to crypto holdings.