A businessman was beaten with hammers by masked men who broke into his home and threatened to kill his heavily pregnant wife unless he transferred hundreds of thousands of pounds of cryptocurrency. The attack, captured on home security footage, lasted 45 minutes. The intruders, known to have used a live video call, left after the man transferred his crypto savings. "They threatened my wife and my baby," he said. "People need to understand these risks are real." The rise of 'wrench attacks' targeting cryptocurrency investors is a concerning trend. Unlike money held in a conventional bank account, cryptocurrency is often controlled directly by the owner through digital wallets or physical storage devices. For criminals, that combination of speed, anonymity and irreversibility can make crypto holders attractive targets. Home invasions are on the rise, with the US, Brazil, and Thailand being hotspots. The UK has seen several cases. The victim, James, has lost everything and is now looking to get back to his traditional job. Crimestoppers are offering a £10,000 reward for information in the attack. The physical security assumptions that protect traditional wealth do not automatically apply in crypto. Holders keep their assets in comparatively low security setups, like self-custody wallets, that can be compromised without any institutional gatekeeper standing in the way. Police have yet to identify the attackers, who are thought to be in their late teens or early 20s. James said he has little hope of recovering the stolen funds, but instead wants to see those responsible brought to justice. These criminals are obviously serious and part of some kind of organised crime gang, according to Alan Edwards from the charity. People might be scared to give us information but we are independent of the police and keep people completely anonymous. The victim hopes his experience will serve as a warning to others. He became an amateur investor in crypto coins in 2020 and made enough money to quit his job in 2023 to trade full time. Now he has lost everything and is looking to get back to his traditional job.