Criminals exploit KYC data leaks to target digital asset holders, with losses in Europe reaching $101M this year.
France has become the epicenter of crypto wrench attacks, representing 70% of global incidents in 2026. The surge follows a data leak exposing 270,000 customers’ identities, addresses, and emails, fueling physical theft and kidnappings.
Europe has seen a hyperconcentration of such attacks, with total losses hitting $101M. Criminals often recruit local operatives to execute robberies, leveraging leaked KYC data to pinpoint high-value targets.
Security experts recommend using custody services with duress codes or decoy wallets to mitigate risks. Opposition to mandatory KYC regulations is growing within the crypto community amid rising safety concerns.