
Crypto trader loses $24M in a violent wrench attack as Arkham tracks stolen funds across Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Monero.
Author: Akshat Thakur
March 5, 2026 — Crypto Trader $24M Wrench Attack Theft has shocked the digital asset community after a trader known as @sillytuna reported a violent assault that led to the loss of roughly $24 million in cryptocurrency. The victim said attackers used weapons, kidnapping threats, and physical coercion to force access to a wallet containing a large amount of crypto assets. The case has quickly drawn attention across the industry as blockchain intelligence firm Arkham began tracking the movement of the stolen funds across several networks.
High Signal Summary For A Quick Glance
Favocoin
@favo__coin
@arkham Kudos to Arkham for the detailed tracking. The attacker's tactics—dispersing funds across Layer 2 and attempting to launder through XMR—show a high level of sophistication. However, under the pressure of global on-chain monitoring, any tiny slip-up in fund movement could be the
TRACKING TODAY’S $24 MILLION CRYPTO THEFT Sillytuna was targeted in a real-world attack by thieves who stole $23.6M of AAVE USDC from him. The attackers moved funds to layer 2 networks, Bitcoin, and even Monero. Here’s a breakdown of the current fund locations: https://t.co/cBB3Ho55jY https://t.co/PDPqmrvmnm
08:17 AM·Mar 5, 2026
Sage Byte
@MrSage
@arkham why do people even know what he has?
TRACKING TODAY’S $24 MILLION CRYPTO THEFT Sillytuna was targeted in a real-world attack by thieves who stole $23.6M of AAVE USDC from him. The attackers moved funds to layer 2 networks, Bitcoin, and even Monero. Here’s a breakdown of the current fund locations: https://t.co/cBB3Ho55jY https://t.co/PDPqmrvmnm
08:11 AM·Mar 5, 2026
FORKOFF
@officialforkoff
@arkham real-world attacks on crypto holders are becoming a serious concern.
TRACKING TODAY’S $24 MILLION CRYPTO THEFT Sillytuna was targeted in a real-world attack by thieves who stole $23.6M of AAVE USDC from him. The attackers moved funds to layer 2 networks, Bitcoin, and even Monero. Here’s a breakdown of the current fund locations: https://t.co/cBB3Ho55jY https://t.co/PDPqmrvmnm
07:55 AM·Mar 5, 2026
Steady attention without excessive speculation.
Wrench attacks refer to physical assaults used to force victims to reveal private keys or approve transactions. The term comes from a well-known XKCD comic that illustrates how physical force can bypass even the strongest encryption.
Unlike traditional hacks that target software vulnerabilities, wrench attacks rely on real-world violence. Attackers often identify victims through social media posts, public wallet activity, or visible crypto wealth.
Security researchers have warned that these attacks are becoming more common as digital assets grow in value and adoption.
According to reports from the victim, the attackers drained approximately $23.6 million worth of aEthUSDC from a wallet on the Ethereum network. The funds were removed in a single transaction from the address linked to the trader.
The victim described the incident as a violent assault involving weapons and threats. Police have reportedly been contacted as part of the investigation.
In posts on social media, the trader confirmed that the attack forced them to approve transactions under duress. The victim also announced a 10 percent bounty for anyone who helps recover the stolen funds.
Blockchain analytics firm Arkham quickly began monitoring the stolen assets after the incident became public.
According to Arkham’s tracking, the attackers converted much of the stolen aEthUSDC into DAI on Ethereum. Roughly $20 million was moved into two separate addresses shortly after the theft.
The attackers then bridged around $2.48 million to the Arbitrum network. From there, approximately $2.47 million was transferred to the Hyperliquid exchange.
Some of those funds were later swapped into Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency designed to hide transaction details. Another portion of the funds was bridged to the Bitcoin network, making recovery more complex.
Arkham has created a dedicated tracking entity to monitor the addresses connected to the theft.
Security firms report that physical attacks targeting crypto investors are rising. CertiK data suggests wrench attacks increased significantly over the past year.
Several high-profile incidents have already occurred in different countries. These include kidnappings, home invasions, and violent attempts to extract seed phrases or wallet access.
As crypto adoption expands, attackers may increasingly target individuals rather than digital systems.
Initial speculation suggested the incident may have involved an address poisoning scam. In such scams, attackers send small transactions from addresses that resemble legitimate ones, hoping victims accidentally copy and send funds to the wrong address.
However, the victim strongly denied that explanation and insisted the theft occurred through physical violence rather than a digital trick.
The conflicting reports sparked discussion among analysts about whether the attack involved purely physical coercion or a combination of social engineering and force.
Our Crypto Talk is committed to unbiased, transparent, and true reporting to the best of our knowledge. This news article aims to provide accurate information in a timely manner. However, we advise the readers to verify facts independently and consult a professional before making any decisions based on the content since our sources could be wrong too. Check our Terms and conditions for more info.
Crypto Trader $24M Wrench Attack Theft After Violent Assault
Coinbase and Microsoft Disrupt Tycoon 2FA Phishing Platform
ZachXBT Exposes Alleged Insider Data Abuse at Axiom Exchange
STBU Token Exploit Mints 56M Tokens on Arbitrum
Crypto Trader $24M Wrench Attack Theft After Violent Assault
Coinbase and Microsoft Disrupt Tycoon 2FA Phishing Platform
ZachXBT Exposes Alleged Insider Data Abuse at Axiom Exchange
STBU Token Exploit Mints 56M Tokens on Arbitrum