Chilling Report from Chainalysis: $30 Million Extorted via Physical Attacks, This Country Becomes the Hub of Violence

According to a Chainalysis report, more than $30 million in assets were stolen in physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders in the first half of 2026, while France became the epicenter of this wave of violence due to data leaks.

Although digital security measures in the cryptocurrency world are increasing day by day, physical attacks directly targeting investors have reached alarming levels. New data released by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis shows that 2026 is on track to be the darkest year for crypto owners in terms of physical security. The amount stolen in the first half of the year suggests that the record of $58 million set in 2025 could be broken this year.

A tax office data leak in France placed the names, addresses, and asset information of high-net-worth investors into the hands of criminals. This led to an explosion of physical attacks, known as “wrench attacks,” where victims are forced to make transfers. While 19 cases were seen in 2025, this number rose to 30 in just the first half of 2026. French authorities have made more than 200 arrests related to these incidents, which have spread beyond Paris to cities like Strasbourg and Marseille.

Data Leaks Threaten Life Safety

As criminals’ methods become increasingly brutal, it is no longer just investors being targeted, but also family members and children. The fact that a mother and her children in France were held hostage for hours and forced to transfer approximately $820,000 worth of assets demonstrates the scale of the danger. Furthermore, attackers disguised as fake police officers stealing $1 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) from a couple and a failed attack attempt against a Binance France executive prove that security should not be limited to digital wallets alone.

The traces of violence, like shattered glass, leave deep and irreversible wounds in the physical world. The fact that the vast majority of attacks target locals instead of tourists indicates that criminals are making detailed plans based on leaked data. The ability to transfer crypto assets instantly and irreversibly continues to push malicious individuals toward these risky but “lucrative” acts of violence. For investors, data privacy is no longer just a choice, but has become a direct matter of physical safety.