Israeli-Linked Hackers Drain $90 Million from Iran's Nobitex

Hackers possibly linked to Israel have emptied over $90 million in cryptocurrencies from Iran's Nobitex, aiming to protest Iran's government. The hack, attributed to the group Gonjeshke Darande, accused the exchange of aiding the Iranian government to evade sanctions. The cyberattack underscores the geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran.

Hackers suspected to have ties to Israel have orchestrated a significant breach against Nobitex, Iran's predominant cryptocurrency exchange, extracting over $90 million in digital currencies. Blockchain analytics firms report that the attackers even leaked Nobitex's full source code, further deepening the crisis for the beleaguered exchange.

The cyber assault appears to be politically motivated, with the attackers transferring funds to addresses carrying messages critical of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. According to the blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, these wallets were used primarily to broadcast messages rather than financially benefit the hackers.

The group behind the hack, Gonjeshke Darande, known as 'Predatory Sparrow,' alleges Nobitex facilitated the Iranian government's efforts to evade Western sanctions. Nobitex confirmed the breach as their systems went offline for assessments. The attack accentuates ongoing Israeli-Iranian tensions, exacerbated by recent military confrontations.

(With inputs from agencies.)