The most brutal attacks involving Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in 2025

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: The Most Brutal Attacks Involving Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies in 2025 Original Link: The growing mainstream presence of cryptocurrencies has not always brought good news for investors.

Along with Bitcoin’s appreciation, a growing number of wrench attacks (“wrench attacks”) — physical assaults aimed at forcing victims to give access to their cryptocurrencies — occurred throughout 2025.

According to a public database of such attacks maintained by Jameson Lopp, CTO of security firm Casa, at least 65 attacks have been documented this year, with many others likely not publicly disclosed.

Below, we highlight some of the most shocking and high-profile attacks that made headlines this year.

Ledger Co-founder Kidnapped

Ledger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped at his home and held for ransom in an attack that took place in France, in January.

Balland and his wife were taken from their home to a nearby city and held hostage for about 24 hours until they were freed by French authorities.

At the time, the French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the kidnappers amputated one of Balland’s fingers and sent it to close contacts as a way to pressure for ransom payment.

In June, French police arrested a Franco-Moroccan citizen identified as the leader of Balland’s kidnapping scheme, as well as other similar plots that occurred in France in May.

Torture and Abuse in Canada

A family from British Columbia, Canada