Crypto News: Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum Whales and Tokenized Gold

August 11, 2026

WRITTEN BY

Crypto investor and blockchain researcher

Crypto markets spent the week balancing price pressure with a steady stream of infrastructure, institutional, and regulatory developments. Bitcoin struggled near a key resistance level, while major stories emerged around Ethereum staking, XRP privacy, tokenized assets, stablecoin payments, and physical security. Here are the stories worth watching from last week.

Crypto Wrench Attacks Reach $124.2 Million in H1 2026

Physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders increased during the first half of 2026. CertiK recorded 52 wrench attacks, compared with 39 during the same period in 2025.

The number of incidents rose 33%, but the value connected to them increased much faster. Recorded financial exposure reached $124,180,400, up from $10,532,242 one year earlier. That represents an approximately 11.8-fold increase, or 1,080% year over year.

Wrench attacks use physical violence, kidnapping, threats, or other forms of coercion to force victims to transfer digital assets or reveal access credentials. Unlike online exploits, these incidents target the individual who controls the wallet.