Masked intruders broke into a Solihull home and attacked a crypto investor with hammers while threatening his pregnant wife, prompting police to investigate the violent home invasion alongside a surging international wave of physical robberies targeting digital asset holders.
Armed Intruders Attack Solihull Home in 45-Minute Assault
The husband, an amateur cryptocurrency trader whom the BBC is calling James, attempted to fight off the intruders before being struck in the face, head, and ribs with hammers.
James later recalled hearing her screaming I can’t breathe
as she was suffocated during the ordeal.
Accomplice Uses FaceTime to Coerce Crypto Transfers
The intruders initially demanded James unlock his phone and hand it over, though they appeared to possess little understanding of how to use digital asset wallets themselves. Instead, they took instructions from an accomplice connected via a live FaceTime video call who directed the search of the device.
When the caller on the video stream identified a wallet holding substantial funds, the threats escalated sharply. According to James, the caller stated that failure to transfer the assets immediately would result in his wife being stabbed in the stomach.
The Rise of Global Wrench Attacks on Crypto Investors
Investigators at Chainalysis categorize such incidents as wrench attacks—a growing category of violent robberies targeting individuals who hold digital assets. Because cryptocurrency is managed directly through self-custody wallets rather than traditional institutional gatekeepers like bank vaults, investors lack the physical security layers that protect conventional wealth.
Research from the blockchain analytics firm indicates that $30m (£22.6m) had been stolen in violent crypto robberies globally up to June, placing 2026 on track to become the worst year on record for physical attacks against digital asset holders. While hotspots have emerged across the United States, Brazil, and Thailand, France has recorded the highest concentration of incidents, driven by a tax office data breach that exposed the locations of wealthy investors.
Crimestoppers Offers Reward as Police Investigation Continues
Police have not yet identified the attackers, who are believed to be in their late teens or early 20s. Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in the case.
Alan Edwards from the charity emphasized that tipsters can share details anonymously without involving local police directly, noting that the perpetrators belong to an organized crime group. Meanwhile, James—who left a traditional job in 2023 to trade crypto full-time after starting as an amateur investor in 2020—stated he has lost his savings and intends to return to standard employment.