Violent, real-world attacks on crypto holders are escalating fast, and the money at stake has ballooned, according to a new report from blockchain security firm CertiK. The firm verified 52 "wrench attacks"—incidents in which criminals use violence or threats to force victims to hand over crypto—in the first half of 2026, up by a third from 39 a year earlier. Recorded financial exposure climbed almost 12-fold to $124.1 million, from $10.5 million in H1 2025, lifting the average recorded haul per incident from $270,000 to $2.39 million. CertiK cautioned that the figures capture ransom demands and frozen or recovered ... (full story)