Authorities in Spain and Denmark have dismantled a cross-border criminal organization responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a cryptocurrency holder, highlighting the alarming trend of violent ‘wrench attacks.’
Summary
- Spanish and Danish law enforcement detained suspects following the abduction of a couple in Málaga, driven by a desire to access their cryptocurrency wallets, resulting in the male victim’s death.
- Authorities conducted raids in Madrid and Málaga, uncovering weapons, blood-stained clothing, electronic devices, and documents linked to a broader scheme preying on valuable digital wallets.
- This case aligns with a rising global pattern of violent ‘wrench attacks’ against crypto owners, as theft of personal wallets and physical coercion surge to record levels in 2025.
Spanish law enforcement has arrested five suspects and collaborated with Danish authorities to charge four additional individuals linked to the kidnapping and murder of a man targeted for his cryptocurrency assets, officials reported.
The joint investigation uncovered a transnational criminal network that employs violence to steal digital assets, according to police statements. Spanish and Danish authorities executed coordinated operations that included multiple raids and the confiscation of weapons and electronic devices.
The case began in April when a woman reported that she and her partner had been kidnapped in Mijas, according to investigators. The couple was ambushed by three or four masked assailants dressed in black and armed with firearms, as per police accounts.
Spanish authorities apprehend violent gang members
The male victim sustained a gunshot wound to the leg while trying to flee, authorities noted. Both individuals were forcibly taken into a vehicle and held at a residence for several hours. During their captivity, the attackers attempted to gain access to the couple’s cryptocurrency wallets, police reported.
The female victim was released around midnight, but the male victim’s body was later found in a woodland area showing signs of violence in addition to the gunshot injury, officials stated.
As part of the investigation, police executed six raids across properties in Madrid and Málaga. Officers seized two handguns—one real and one fake—along with a baton, blood-stained clothing, mobile devices, and documents believed to be linked to the crime, according to officials. Biological evidence related to the crime scene was also collected.
Danish authorities have charged four individuals regarding this case, with two of them already serving prison sentences for similar crimes.
This incident illustrates a growing trend of physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency holders to extract access to digital wallets. These incidents, commonly referred to as “wrench attacks” in the industry, have garnered increased scrutiny in recent months.
Violent acts directed at cryptocurrency holders are anticipated to reach unprecedented levels in 2025, based on a report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. As of July, 35 such assaults have been documented globally, signaling a year set to surpass the peak witnessed during the 2021 market boom, the report indicated.
Chainalysis has observed a shift in cryptocurrency-related crime from online attacks to physical assaults. Over $2.17 billion has been stolen from cryptocurrency services in the current year, already exceeding the total losses for 2024, with nearly 25% attributed to personal wallet assaults, as indicated by the firm’s data.
Criminals are increasingly targeting high-value wallets, especially in areas experiencing rapid retail adoption, resulting in higher average losses for Bitcoin (BTC) holders, the report suggests. The Asia-Pacific region has been notably impacted, ranking second globally for Bitcoin theft and third for Ether theft, according to Chainalysis. Countries like Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Philippines have reported a rise in incidents, some with severe repercussions, as confirmed by local authorities.
