Cryptocurrency Robberies: New Threats and Geography of Thefts
Date: 2025-07-18 Author: Henry Casey Categories: CRYPTO PAYMENTS
The Chainalysis company presented a fresh report on criminal activity in the world of digital assets for the first six months of 2025. Experts particularly highlighted the growth in the number of wrench attacks — crimes involving the use of force to steal cryptocurrency. If the trend continues, the number of such cases may double compared to previous records. Experts emphasize that the real number of attacks is probably higher, since not all victims contact the police.
Physical violence related to cryptocurrencies is becoming increasingly common. Thus, in France, there have already been several high-profile kidnappings of people related to the crypto business. In Belarus, one of the residents received 13 years in prison for robbery and an attempt to extort crypto assets for an impressive amount. And in Yekaterinburg, a gang is being tried for kidnapping a person and stealing bitcoins worth more than 5 million rubles.
The Chainalysis report also showed the distribution of victims by country. Most cases were recorded in the United States, Germany, Russia, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea. The largest increase in the number of attacks is observed in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and East Asia. This suggests that as interest in cryptocurrencies grows, so do the risks for private holders.
It is noteworthy that criminals are not always in a hurry to exchange stolen digital assets for regular money. Experts noted that stolen funds are often stored for a long time at addresses controlled by the attackers. This behavior is explained by confidence in the security of their own schemes or the expectation of an increase in the value of assets.
Chainalysis urges users to take greater care of the privacy of their data. According to analysts, protecting physical security and maintaining anonymity when trading cryptocurrency is no less important than technical measures to protect wallets. Experts advise to be critical of the digital footprint and not to advertise the possession of large sums.
Although Bitcoin owners are less likely to become victims of targeted thefts, the damage from each such attack is significantly greater than from thefts of other tokens. According to analysts, criminals are more likely to choose more expensive assets - that is why Bitcoin is often in the crosshairs.
There are also reasons why attackers are increasingly switching from services to private wallets. Firstly, crypto exchanges and platforms have strengthened their protection. Secondly, the number of people who store cryptocurrency themselves is growing. Thirdly, in recent years, the amounts in such wallets have increased significantly. Finally, the methods of finding victims themselves are becoming more complex due to the development of technology, including artificial intelligence.
Experts warn: as the price of Bitcoin rises, so does the motivation of criminals. Owners of digital assets should remember this and take all possible measures to protect their funds and their own safety.
