Violent Crypto Attacks Spike Globally as Criminals Target Bigger Payouts

Crypto criminals are increasingly turning to violent tactics to get their hands on digital assets. According to a report by blockchain security firm CertiK, the number of physical attacks against crypto holders has risen significantly in the first half of this year.

The report found that there were 52 verified physical attacks globally in the first six months of 2026, a 33% increase from the same period last year. France accounted for nearly two-thirds of these cases, with 33 reported incidents.

The trend suggests that attackers are becoming more brazen and targeting bigger payouts. The sum of recorded losses and ransom demands rose to about $124 million, up from just $10.5 million in the same period last year.

Ronghui Gu, co-founder of CertiK and a computer science professor at Columbia University, described these attacks as 'a combination of cyberattacks, social engineering, and physical attacks.'

The rise of home invasions has also been noted, with 20 publicly reported cases in the first six months of this year, compared to just one in the same period last year. Kidnappings have become less common, but still accounted for 16 incidents.