Crypto Investors Face Record Rise in Physical Attacks in 2025

Security experts are warning that 2025 could become the most dangerous year yet for cryptocurrency holders, as physical assaults, kidnappings, and extortion attempts surge worldwide.

Speaking at the Baltic Honeybadger conference in Riga, SatoshiLabs founder Alena Vranova described the growing threat of so-called “wrench attacks” – crimes where victims are coerced into handing over their private keys. She noted that these incidents are no longer reserved for crypto millionaires. Targets have been chosen for holdings worth as little as $6,000, and in some tragic cases, attacks have turned deadly over amounts below $50,000.

Vranova estimates that at least one such attack is now happening every week globally. The escalation, she explained, is fueled by massive leaks of personal information. Over 80 million crypto user records — including more than two million with home addresses — have surfaced online, often as a result of breaches at centralized exchanges or wallet services.

Recent hacks, such as one at Coinbase that exposed customer names and addresses, join an ever-growing list of stolen data from tech giants like Apple, Facebook, and Google. Combined with blockchain tracking tools, these leaks enable criminals to pinpoint high-value wallets with alarming precision.

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With the ongoing bull market attracting inexperienced investors, criminal tactics have expanded from phishing and SIM swaps to direct, in-person attacks. In response, many holders are adopting stricter “opsec” measures: moving funds to non-custodial wallets, securing homes, using multi-factor authentication, and avoiding public discussion of crypto portfolios.

If current trends persist, analysts caution that 2025 could set a grim new record for violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency investors.