Crypto wrench attacks reach 52 as financial exposure hits $124M: CertiK

Crypto-related “wrench attacks” continued through the first half of 2026, with 52 verified incidents worldwide and $124.1 million in recorded financial exposure, according to CertiK. Summary CertiK recorded 52 wrench attacks in H1 2026, with financial exposure reaching $124.1 million worldwide. France accounted for 33 verified incidents as Europe became main center of physical crypto attacks. Home invasions rose from one to 20 cases, becoming the most common attack type recorded. The total includes stolen funds, ransom demands, frozen assets and other values tied to documented cases, rather than only money confirmed as lost. The number of attacks rose 33.3% from 39 cases in H1 2025. Recorded financial exposure rose much faster from about $10.5 million a year earlier. CertiK calculated a 1,079% increase, while average exposure per incident climbed from roughly $270,000 to $2.39 million. Meanwhile, the first quarter drove most of the increase in attack frequency. CertiK recorded 35 incidents in Q1 2026, compared with 22 during the same period last year. Activity then slowed to 17 verified attacks in the second quarter, matching the Q2 2025 total. CertiK cautioned that its financial f...