Physical Attack Shock in Crypto: Targeted Amount Skyrockets by 1,000% to $124 Million

CertiK’s latest report reveals that physical attacks (wrench attacks) in the cryptocurrency world, which transcend digital security, have reached frightening proportions, with the targeted financial value skyrocketing to $124 million.

While software vulnerabilities usually come to mind regarding security in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, attacks involving physical violence have become a new and serious threat to investors. According to data published by security firm CertiK, a total of 52 physical attack cases were recorded in the first half of 2026. This figure signals a wave of violence where even the most advanced digital protections fall short against physical intimidation.

The most striking data in the report was that the total financial value targeted by attackers increased by more than 1,000 percent compared to the previous year. This amount, which stood at $10.5 million in the same period last year, rose to exactly $124 million in the first half of 2026. The increase in home invasions, in particular, has reached alarming levels; the number of cases, which was only 1 last year, jumped to 20 this year, representing a 20-fold increase.

Europe and France Become the Epicenter of Attacks

Looking at the geographical distribution of physical threats, it is evident that Western Europe has become the focus of these attacks. While 39 of the 52 total cases occurred on the European continent, France alone ranked first worldwide in this area with 33 cases. Criminals attempting to seize investors’ assets through physical interventions such as broken windows and forced locks aim to bypass digital security through physical pressure.

Vital Security Recommendations for Investors

CertiK emphasizes that investors need to make fundamental lifestyle changes against these rising risks. Experts warn against associating personal identity and location information with crypto assets and advise against sharing such information on social media. Additionally, it is recommended that high-value assets be stored in a way that a single person cannot access them, and that wallet recovery phrases be kept in physically different locations.

Increasing home security and not keeping sensitive accounts on devices used during travel are also among the critical measures. This surge in physical attacks shows that cryptocurrency owners now need to protect not only their passwords but also their own physical safety at the highest level.