One kidnapping a week: Crypto holders face rising threats

Crypto owners worldwide are increasingly targeted in violent crimes, with at least one kidnapping reported every week.

SatoshiLabs founder Alena Vranova warns that physical attacks against crypto holders—such as kidnappings, extortion, and torture—are now happening at least once a week. She stressed that wealth is not the only factor, as even people holding around $6,000 in crypto have been abducted, and some victims have died over sums of about $50,000.

These so-called “wrench attacks” are fueled by personal data leaks from centralized exchanges, which often expose home addresses and other private details, making investors easy targets.

The growing danger has pushed insurers and private security firms to roll out kidnap-and-ransom protection specifically tailored for people involved in digital assets. For many, personal safety is becoming as important as safeguarding their crypto wallets.