Crypto physical attacks rose 75% in 2025

CertiK reported that physical attacks on crypto holders climbed sharply in 2025, with 72 confirmed cases—up 75% year over year—and $41 million in known losses.

The figures matter because they highlight a growing risk category that doesn’t fit the usual pattern of cybercrime against wallets and exchanges. Physical attacks can translate into direct theft of assets, coercion of victims into transferring funds, and knock-on effects such as increased doxxing and targeted social engineering. For the industry, it suggests that personal security and threat modeling are becoming part of broader crypto risk management.

The same coverage also referenced an effort to reduce exposure for high-profile individuals: Coinbase reportedly spent about $7.6 million on protective measures for Brian Armstrong. That datapoint underscores that major platforms are increasingly treating key executives as physical security targets, not just reputational and cybersecurity risks.

From a business perspective, these events can raise operational costs and widen the gap between retail holders and institutional players. It may also influence how wallets, exchanges, and custody providers think about user identity, location privacy, and response plans after incidents. While losses are described as “known,” the absence of complete totals is a reminder that many cases may go unreported or unverifiable.

Overall, the trend suggests that the threat surface for cryptocurrency is expanding beyond digital systems into real-world targeting—driven by visibility, perceived wealth, and the ability of attackers to locate and pressure victims.