The Journal. Severed Fingers and Wrench Attacks: A New Era in Crypto Crime
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Jun 20, 2025 
Sam Schechner, a reporter from The Wall Street Journal, delves into the alarming rise of wrench attacks—a new, violent trend in crypto theft. He highlights harrowing incidents, including a kidnapping of a cryptocurrency exchange CEO, showcasing how criminals are resorting to physical violence for digital wealth. Schechner emphasizes the risks faced by those displaying their wealth online and discusses the urgent need for security measures. The conversation reveals a dark side of cryptocurrency that many are unaware of, blending danger and urgency in the world of digital finance.
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Paris Crypto Kidnapping Attempt
- A woman was nearly kidnapped in Paris to extort her father, a crypto exchange CEO, demanding crypto ransom.
- The brave intervention of bystanders forced attackers to flee, showing the brutal reality of wrench attacks.
What Is A Wrench Attack?
- The term "$5 wrench attack" means using physical violence to obtain crypto passwords.
- It's a literal brute force method contrasting with hacking efforts.
Offline Storage Spurs Physical Threats
- Crypto thefts are usually online but face rising physical violence as keys are increasingly stored offline.
- Offline self-custody devices protect from hacks but not from violent coercion.