Crypto Investors Suffer Record Losses as Physical Extortion Attempts Skyrocket
Since the beginning of 2026, cryptocurrency investors have lost over $30 million to physical extortion attempts, according to Chainalysis. This is a significant increase from the entire year of 2025, where the amount stolen was a record $58 million.
If unsuccessful extortion attempts are included, the total damage for 2026 rises to $107 million. However, it's worth noting that these figures only account for known and registered cases, and some victims may not have contacted law enforcement agencies.
The trend of attacks on crypto owners has increased, with a notable spike in France. In 2025, there were 19 such cases, and in the first half of 2026, analysts counted 30 publicly known incidents. This surge is attributed to a major leak of personal data of crypto investors in 2024.
Criminals are increasingly using physical violence combined with social engineering tactics to pressure victims into transferring assets. The majority of victims are local residents, indicating that criminals choose targets in advance and gather information before carrying out the attack.