On February 2, the world's largest Web3 security company CertiK released the "Skynet Wrench Attack Report," pointing out that physical violence against cryptocurrency holders has evolved from extreme cases into a structural risk. As the security protections for cryptocurrency assets continue to strengthen, this method of bypassing technical defenses and directly targeting "people" is spreading rapidly.

The report shows that in 2025, there were a total of 72 verified wrench attack incidents recorded globally, an increase of 75% compared to 2024. The so-called "wrench attack" refers to attackers using physical means such as violence, intimidation, or kidnapping to force victims to hand over their private keys or passwords. These types of attacks do not rely on technical vulnerabilities but directly target the individuals behind the cryptocurrency assets.

Significant Upgrade in Violence Level, Europe Becomes a High-Risk Area

In terms of attack forms, wrench attacks in 2025 show a clear trend of increased violence. The report points out that kidnapping remains the main attack path, with 25 incidents occurring throughout the year; direct personal attack incidents increased by 250% year-over-year, becoming one of the most concerning changes.

Geographically, Europe has, for the first time, become the region with the highest risk worldwide. In 2025, Europe accounted for over 40% of all known incidents globally, with France recording the highest number of attacks, surpassing the United States. CertiK noted in the report that this change does not mean that the risks in North America have disappeared but reflects that such crimes are spreading to areas with more complex legal environments and higher cross-border cooperation costs.

Losses Exceed $40 Million, True Scale May Be Seriously Underestimated

In terms of financial impact, confirmed losses related to wrench attacks in 2025 exceeded $40.9 million, a year-over-year increase of 44%. However, the report warns that due to low willingness of victims to report, fears of retaliation, and some assets involving tax evasion or gray areas, this figure is only "the tip of the iceberg."

The report found through a comparison of attack patterns that wrench attacks in 2025 have completely abandoned the early speculative and fragmented characteristics, entering a stage of specialization and industrial operation. Attackers are mostly organized in transnational crime groups and typically prepare for weeks before an attack, analyzing the target's digit

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