Crypto: Physical Assaults Have Already Yielded Over 30 Million Dollars in 2026

Assaults targeting holders of digital assets continue their rise in 2026. A new report from Chainalysis shows that these violent attacks have already caused more than 30 million dollars in losses in the first half of the year. Home burglaries are gaining ground, while France now accounts for the highest number of recorded incidents. This development also highlights the adaptation of criminal networks, which use increasingly sophisticated methods to divert crypto funds.

Attacks against crypto holders reach a new peak

The report published by Chainalysis records 46 physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency holders through the end of June 2026. According to the blockchain analysis company, these attacks have already resulted in over 30 million dollars in losses. Victims suffer burglaries, kidnappings, or hostage-taking aimed at obtaining an immediate transfer of their digital assets.

The perpetrators primarily seek individuals with easily transferable wealth. Unlike traditional bank holdings, cryptocurrencies can be sent quickly and irreversibly once the victim yields under duress. This characteristic explains, according to the report, the growing interest of criminal groups in this type of target.

A forceful attack involves threatening or using physical violence to compel a person to transfer their funds. This modus operandi occupies an increasingly significant place in reported cases. Criminals now favor scenarios allowing them to directly control their victim before gaining access to their digital wallets.

Burglaries become the preferred method

While kidnappings remain the most frequent type of assault, burglaries are rapidly increasing. They now account for 37% of documented incidents, up from only 26% in 2023. This evolution reflects a shift in strategy among perpetrators who prefer simpler operations to organize.

Chainalysis explains that burglaries offer a more controlled environment to force victims to transfer crypto. Conversely, kidnappings require more logistical preparation, mobilize more resources, and expose assailants for a much longer period. This difference makes home intrusions particularly attractive to criminal networks.

The report also highlights another worrying trend. Relatives and acquaintances of cryptocurrency holders are also becoming targets. Assailants use this additional pressure to force victims to hand over their digital assets as quickly as possible.

France now accounts for the highest number of incidents

France appears as the main hotspot for these physical attacks in the first half of 2026. Chainalysis already counts 30 incidents in the country, more than any other nation. This concentration draws the attention of security experts and investigators.

According to the same report, this increase may be linked to an alleged leak of tax data that exposed information about wealthy crypto holders. Such exposure would make it easier for groups specialized in assaults and extortions to identify potential targets.

The document also recalls that violence against investors continues to multiply. In April, French authorities charged 88 suspects, including more than ten minors, as part of twelve investigations targeting organized gangs. In June, a man was also indicted after posing as a police officer during a “wrench” type attack. More recently, five men were sentenced in London for kidnapping and torturing two French millionaires in the sector to extort their digital assets.

Increasingly sophisticated laundering techniques

The blockchain analysis company also observes significant differences in how stolen funds are moved after assaults. Some criminals have limited knowledge and transfer assets directly to centralized exchanges. This method leaves more traces and increases identification risks.

Other groups, however, have better mastery of the crypto ecosystem. They exploit decentralized exchanges, cross-chain bridges, MEV bots, and various decentralized finance tools to move assets across multiple networks. These operations complicate tracking and delay potential identification.

The report also indicates these actors seek to avoid centralized platforms. They are aware of the compliance procedures and identity checks imposed by these services. They therefore avoid interaction with these infrastructures as much as possible to limit the risk of blocked or diverted funds.

At the same time, attacks are no longer limited to Europe. In the United States, ransom demands requesting payment in bitcoins have also drawn attention during the investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of presenter Savannah Guthrie. This diversification of cases shows that physical assaults and extortions related to digital assets now take various forms depending on the country and circumstances.

The coming months will show if this trend continues into the second half of 2026. The evolution of methods used, concentration of incidents in France, and the growing sophistication of laundering circuits will continue to be closely monitored, as assaults targeting crypto holders remain sharply on the rise.