Blockchain sleuth ZachXBT has reported a disturbing surge in crypto-related home invasions. He says such incidents have particularly seen an increase in Western Europe. ZachXBT shared that he has been getting an alarming number of messages from victims over the past months.

This surge in violent crypto thefts is not limited to one geographical region. ZachXBT previously warned subscribers on his Telegram channel about multiple community members held at gunpoint and robbed of their digital assets.

Perhaps the most harrowing incident was when an X user lost $4.3 million in cryptocurrency as a result of a home invasion in June 2024. After some investigation, ZachXBT said that the thieves likely used data from a breach to get the victim’s address and additional personal information.

The machete-wielding robbers, masquerading as package delivery personnel, managed to gain access to the victim’s house. They forced him to open his digital wallet and send crypto to two addresses that remain dormant.

ZachXBT also called for holders to be more careful. He advised users to stop sharing their personal information or details on their crypto holdings with friends or on social media.

According to data collated on GitHub, there have been at least 15 documented incidents worldwide in the past year, compared with 17 in 2023, and 32 in 2021. These statistics only hint at one thing: crypto owners are under threat.

It is indeed a criminal trend that law enforcement agencies are beginning to notice. This June, a Florida man was convicted of leading a string of violent home invasions aimed at stealing cryptocurrency.