**[CertiK: Surge in Crypto "Wrench Attacks" in 2026, Europe Becomes Hardest Hit, France Particularly Notable]** Deep Tide TechFlow reports, on May 9, according to The Block, crypto security firm CertiK released a report on May 8 stating that in the first four months of 2026, 34 confirmed cases of crypto "wrench attacks" (i.e., physical assaults and extortion targeting crypto asset holders) were recorded globally, marking a 41% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Victim losses totaled approximately $101 million. If the trend continues, the total number of incidents for the year is expected to reach around 130, with losses potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. In terms of geographic distribution, 28 of the 34 incidents (82%) occurred in Europe, with France standing out significantly. In the first four months of 2026 alone, 24 cases were recorded in France, surpassing the total of 20 cases for the entire year of 2025. CertiK attributes this to factors such as France hosting flagship crypto companies like Ledger and Binance, frequent data breaches, and a culture of "showing off wealth and doxxing" within the community. In contrast, the number of reported incidents in the U.S. dropped from 9 in Q1 2025 to 3, while Asia saw a decline from 25 to 2. Regarding attack methods, CertiK noted that criminal groups have shifted to a "data-driven targeting" model, purchasing victims' names, addresses, and asset information from data brokers, thereby reducing the need for on-site reconnaissance. Over half of this year's incidents involved threats or direct harm to victims' family members (spouses, children, or elderly parents) as a means of coercion. On the operational level, small groups of 3 to 5 individuals are typically recruited via Telegram or Snapchat, while the masterminds are often based in locations such as Morocco, Dubai, and Eastern Europe. Common tactics include "doorbell vectors" (posing as delivery personnel or police officers to gain entry) and "honeypots" (disguising as business meetings or over-the-counter trades).