Chainalysis: "Violent Crimes Targeting Virtual Asset Holders Increase"

Chainalysis: "Violent Crimes Targeting Virtual Asset Holders Increase"

Stolen assets in the first half of this year reached $30 million... Expected to surpass annual record

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis analyzed on the 7th that violent crimes targeting virtual asset holders (also known as 'wrench attacks') are increasing.

In the 'Violence Against Crypto Owners' report released today, Chainalysis stated that the total value of assets stolen through wrench attacks worldwide in the first half of this year amounted to $30 million (approximately 42 billion KRW).

This figure only accounts for incidents where actual assets were stolen. If cases of attempted forced transfers that were blocked, ransom demands, or fund freezes are included, the scale of damage is estimated to be even larger.

If this trend continues into the second half of the year, the annual damage this year is projected to exceed last year's record high of $58 million.

The report diagnosed that the nature of crimes is expanding beyond online to physical dimensions, such as kidnapping and home invasion, and the scope of targets is also broadening.

The proportion of home invasions was 14% last year but increased to 37% in the first half of this year. As of January this year, incidents targeting family and acquaintances also accounted for 25-30% of the total.

Kwon Jun-hyuk, Country Manager of Chainalysis Korea, said, "As personal information leaks and physical crimes combine, an approach that utilizes both on-chain analysis and traditional investigative techniques will become even more important."