Three men were charged this week in connection with a string of violent cryptocurrency thefts across California that netted about $6.5 million, according to court documents. The suspects allegedly used so-called 'wrench attacks' — physically forcing or threatening victims into transferring crypto — in a series of robberies that prosecutors describe as coordinated and escalating.
Charges filed in California wrench attacks
The charges, unsealed Tuesday in a California federal court, accuse the three individuals of multiple counts of robbery, assault, and conspiracy. Each faces up to life in prison if convicted. The indictment alleges the men targeted crypto holders in their homes and at public meet-ups, often striking when victims were alone or vulnerable.
How the attacks worked
A wrench attack is a crude but effective method: criminals use the threat of a weapon or actual physical violence to coerce a victim into logging into their crypto wallet and transferring funds. In some cases, the suspects allegedly held victims at gunpoint for hours while draining multiple accounts. The name comes from the idea that a wrench to the knee can be as effective as a phishing email — but far more dangerous.
Scope of the theft
Prosecutors say the spree involved at least a dozen separate incidents between late 2025 and early 2026, spanning Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. The total stolen is roughly $6.5 million, but authorities believe the actual figure may be higher because some victims were too frightened to come forward immediately. Cryptocurrency's pseudonymity and the ease of moving funds across exchanges made the stolen assets hard to trace.
Next steps in court
All three defendants are in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for next week. A trial date has not yet been set. The case is seen as a test of how law enforcement handles a growing trend: physical attacks aimed at digital wallets. Crypto theft via violence is still rare compared to hacks and scams, but incidents have risen in California and elsewhere over the past year.
