Spanish Authorities Bust Crypto Kidnapping Ring After Deadly Attack

CoinDesk News Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Spanish Authorities Bust Crypto Kidnapping Ring After Deadly Attack The case highlights a growing trend of physical attacks aimed at extracting access to crypto wallets, known as "wrench attacks." By Francisco Rodrigues , AI Boost | Edited by Nikhilesh De Dec 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (Kenny Eliason/Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk) What to know : Spanish police have arrested five people and charged four others in Denmark for the kidnapping and murder of a man whose cryptocurrency was targeted by the attackers. The victim was abducted, shot and held for several hours while the attackers tried to gain access to his crypto wallets, ultimately leading to his murder. The case highlights a growing trend of physical attacks aimed at extracting access to crypto wallets, known as "wrench attacks", and demonstrates the increasing violence and brutality of such crimes. Spanish police arrested five people and charged four others in Denmark on Thursday for the kidnapping and murder of a man targeted for his cryptocurrency. The police operation dismantled what authorities described as a criminal group operating across borders to steal cryptocurrency. The investigation began in April when a woman arrived at a Málaga police station to report that she and her partner had been abducted in the nearby town of Mijas. According to the police, the couple was ambushed by three or four masked men dressed in black and armed with handguns. The man was shot in the leg while trying to escape, and both were then forced into a vehicle and taken to a house where they were held for several hours. The attackers tried to gain access to the couple’s crypto wallets during the ordeal. The woman was released around midnight, but her partner’s deceased body was later found in a wooded area. He showed signs of violence in addition to the gunshot wound, according to police. Authorities carried out six raids in homes across Madrid and Málaga, seizing two handguns — one real, one fake — a baton, blood-stained clothing, mobile devices, and documents. Biological evidence linked to the scene was also recovered. Danish police, working with their Spanish counterparts, charged four people in connection with the case. Two are already in prison for similar crimes. The case points to a growing trend: p hysical attacks aimed at extracting access to crypto wallets . These attacks have been influential in the crypto space this year and have led to campaigns against what has become known as wrench attacks. Security Spain AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards . For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy . 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