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BlockBeats News, January 2, Ari Redbord, Head of Global Policy and Government Affairs at crypto analytics firm TRM Labs, pointed out: "2025 is a record-breaking year for wrench attacks," with around 60 reported physical assaults targeting crypto asset holders throughout the year. This figure is significantly higher than the previously known second-highest number of wrench attacks in 2024 (about 41 cases) and 2021 (36 cases). Although the true number of wrench attacks is difficult to accurately determine, the risk to victims is indeed rising, or at least public awareness of such threats is increasing. "The real number may be much higher," Redbord added. "Many cases are simply registered as ordinary robberies or burglaries, with the crypto asset element being overlooked; others are never reported because victims hesitate or doubt law enforcement's ability to handle crypto-related crimes." This type of cybersecurity risk known as a "wrench attack" is named after the concept that even the most sophisticated encryption and data security measures can be undermined by physical coercion—as in scenarios involving threats with a 'five-dollar wrench.'

BlockBeats News, January 2nd, Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy and Government Affairs at the crypto analytics firm TRM Labs, pointed out: "2025 is a record year for wrench attacks," with about 60 reported cases throughout the year targeting cryptocurrency holders. This number is significantly higher than the previous record in 2024 (around 41 cases) and 2021 (36 cases). While the true number of wrench attacks is difficult to accurately quantify, the risk to victims is increasing, or at least public awareness of such threats is rising. "The actual number may be much higher than this," Redbord added, "Many cases are only recorded as simple robberies or burglaries, with the cryptocurrency element being ignored; while others are never reported because victims hesitate or doubt law enforcement's ability to address crypto-related crimes." "Wrench attacks," these types of cybersecurity risks are named after a concept: even the most sophisticated encryption and data security measures can be undermined by physical coercion — as in a scenario threatened by a 'five-dollar wrench.'

BlockBeats News, January 2, Forbes released its outlook for the crypto sector in 2026, predicting three major trends: "Crypto and AI trading will increasingly mirror each other," "Institutional adoption will continue to deepen," and "Market cooling will not hinder industry progress." Forbes stated that artificial intelligence and crypto assets are increasingly competing for electricity resources, investment capital, and market attention, predicting that the two will continue to show interconnected trends in trading sentiment, market reactions to interest rate and inflation news, and the ability to absorb geopolitical shocks. Even in the face of market volatility and regulatory disputes, institutional adoption of digital assets will steadily advance. Large financial institutions are no longer satisfied with marginal attempts, but are actively building infrastructure, recruiting professional talent, and integrating crypto asset exposure into broader capital market strategies. Asset tokenization, custody solutions, and on-chain settlement are increasingly seen as tools to enhance efficiency rather than speculative chips. The cooling period in the crypto market (even if temporary) should not be misinterpreted as a stagnation of innovation or a regression in industry value. History shows that phases of waning enthusiasm often create space for the maturation of infrastructure, governance models, and use cases. Developers, enterprises, and regulators continue to build during downturns, focusing on scalability, compliance, and real-world application scenarios. For investors and institutions, this stage marks a transition from speculation-driven to utility-driven value. The progress of stablecoins, asset tokenization, and enterprise-level blockchain adoption will continue to advance, unaffected by short-term price fluctuations.