Israeli police arrest two suspects in $600K crypto assault case
Authorities in Tel Aviv have uncovered a brutal robbery in which a trader was tortured for $600,000 in Bitcoin and USDT. This marks the 52nd confirmed case of a so-called “wrench attack” globally this year.
The Israeli Prosecutor’s Office has charged two men with organizing a violent assault on a crypto trader from Herzliya. According to investigators, the victim was beaten, tied up, and stabbed twice before being forced to transfer around $600,000 worth of crypto assets to the attackers.
The investigation took just three days: Mahajna was arrested on September 10 after police analyzed phone records and CCTV footage. Authorities said the attackers tried to erase evidence by disinfecting the crime scene.
According to analyst Jameson Lopp, this was already the 52nd physical attack on crypto holders in 2025 - nearly one per week. Experts call these incidents “wrench attacks”, where criminals use physical violence to extract wallet access information.
Financial analysts note that the rise in Bitcoin’s price to $120,000 and the growing public visibility of crypto traders have made them prime targets for criminal groups. Israeli authorities are reportedly considering tougher penalties for crimes involving digital assets.
Press release from a local Israeli outlet. Source: calcalistech.com
The incident occurred on September 7. Three assailants ambushed the trader at the entrance to his apartment building and dragged him inside by force. One of them, Murad Mahajna, already had ten prior convictions. He demanded 500 BTC, threatening to kill the victim. When the trader refused, the attackers beat him and stabbed him twice in the legs. Ultimately, the victim surrendered wallet access data, after which the criminals transferred $547,000 in BTC and $42,000 in USDT, also stealing a $50,000 Rolex watch and cash.
The investigation took just three days: Mahajna was arrested on September 10 after police analyzed phone records and CCTV footage. Authorities said the attackers tried to erase evidence by disinfecting the crime scene.
According to analyst Jameson Lopp, this was already the 52nd physical attack on crypto holders in 2025 - nearly one per week. Experts call these incidents “wrench attacks”, where criminals use physical violence to extract wallet access information.
Financial analysts note that the rise in Bitcoin’s price to $120,000 and the growing public visibility of crypto traders have made them prime targets for criminal groups. Israeli authorities are reportedly considering tougher penalties for crimes involving digital assets.
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