Major Cyberattack Drains $90 Million from Iran’s Largest Cryptocurrency Exchange

Hackers Linked to Israel Target Nobitex

In a significant breach, hackers allegedly connected to Israeli interests have stolen over $90 million from Nobitex, the leading cryptocurrency exchange in Iran. This incident has raised alarms among blockchain analysts who have been monitoring the event closely.

Source Code Leaked Amidst Political Motivations

The group responsible for the cyber heist publicly released what it claimed to be the complete source code of Nobitex. In a message on Telegram, they announced that all digital assets remaining within Nobitex are now fully exposed. This development not only highlights the scale of the breach but also suggests an underlying motive that transcends financial gain.

Political Messaging Behind the Theft

According to findings by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the stolen cryptocurrencies were transferred to wallets accompanied by messages criticizing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The report indicates that the hackers were likely not driven by financial incentives, as the funds transferred to these wallets were essentially rendered unusable, serving instead as a political statement directed at the Iranian regime.

Accusations of Collaborating with Sanction Evasion

The hacking group, which identifies itself as Gonjeshke Darande, or "Predatory Sparrow," has accused Nobitex of facilitating Iran’s government in dodging international sanctions and enabling financial channels to militant groups. Their declaration on platform X emphasizes the strategic motives behind the hack.

Nobitex Confirms Unauthorized Access

Following the breach, Nobitex acknowledged the attack, revealing that both its app and website were temporarily offline as it conducted investigations into unauthorized access to its systems.

Diverse Range of Cryptocurrencies Targeted

The cyber theft encompassed multiple forms of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin, according to Andrew Fierman, head of national security intelligence at Chainalysis. The attack is particularly noteworthy given the relatively small scale of Iran’s cryptocurrency market, signifying deeper implications in the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Tensions Rise Amid Regional Conflicts

This hack comes on the heels of escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, which reignited recently when Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and officials, provoking retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran. Just days prior, the same hacking group had claimed responsibility for a cyber assault on Bank Sepah, a state-controlled financial institution in Iran.

Links to High-Ranking Iranian Figures

Elliptic has drawn connections between Nobitex and relatives of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, asserting that individuals associated with the sanctioned Revolutionary Guard have utilized this exchange. The analysis reveals that Nobitex has been involved in transactions with cryptocurrency wallets linked to Iranian allies such as Hamas and Yemen’s Houthis.

Previous Attacks by Gonjeshke Darande

Gonjeshke Darande has a history of executing significant cyber operations against Iranian targets, including an operation in 2021 that disrupted gas stations nationwide and a 2022 cyberattack on a steel mill that resulted in a substantial fire.

Unconfirmed Connections to Israel

Despite numerous reports from Israeli media suggesting that Gonjeshke Darande has ties to Israeli governmental affiliations, the Israeli authorities have not formally acknowledged any connection to the group.

U.S. Legislative Concerns Over Cryptocurrency Use

Last year, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King expressed their apprehensions regarding Iran’s utilization of cryptocurrencies as a means to circumvent sanctions, further illustrating the complexities surrounding the intersection of cryptocurrency and global security.

This rewritten article maintains a journalistic tone while repositioning the content to be more aligned with structured data article schema for search engines.