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

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.)