Regulators continue to treat greater data collection as synonymous with safety, but the reality is increasingly reflected in kidnappings, coercion, torture and in some cases death.
stats.gart.io
quotingBitcoin transactions are transparent by design, but identity is not meant to be.
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The growing accumulation of KYC data, public records and repeated breaches is creating a direct personal security vulnerability.
Torture, weapons, family intimidation and coercion are no longer rare. Risk is increasingly shifting from institutions to individuals.
In 2025, 76 documented 'wrench attacks' were recorded globally, a 77% increase from 2024. France jumped from 4 total cases (2017–2024) to 20 in a single year.
My latest Forbes piece examines the data and discusses how regulation, data aggregation and coercion are colliding in ways policymakers did not anticipate.
Full article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2026/02/20/how-regulation-and-data-collection-are-creating-physical-security-risk/