France has become a hotspot for so-called wrench attacks — crimes where victims are threatened or assaulted to hand over crypto assets like Bitcoin. Reports suggest at least 41 such incidents have occurred this year alone, averaging one every few days.

Experts believe attackers may be using leaked customer data from crypto companies to identify wealthy targets and their home addresses. As a result, authorities are now warning that crypto security isn’t just about protecting wallets and private keys — it also involves personal safety, as criminals increasingly move from hacking systems to targeting individuals directly.