Crypto crime has moved beyond online hacks, Chainalysis says 
Chainalysis has warned that cryptocurrency crime has increasingly extended into kidnappings, home invasions and other violent incidents as criminals pursue holders who can transfer digital assets immediately under coercion. According to the blockchain analytics firm’s latest report shared with cryptonews, cybercrime still accounts for most illicit crypto activity, including an estimated $3.4 billion stolen through hacks, $17 billion lost to scams and about $820 million linked to ransomware in 2025. 
At the same time, physical attacks have become more common because crypto holders often control large amounts of wealth through self-custody wallets without the institutional safeguards associated with traditional financial assets. 
The report estimates that violent criminals have extracted more than $30 million from crypto holders during the first half of 2026 through successful kidnappings, hostage situations, and home invasions. If the current pace continues, 2026 would surpass the $58 million stolen during 2025, although the estimate only covers publicly reported incidents and likely understates the full scale of the problem.
