A Russian-Israeli citizen allegedly concerned within the $190 million Nomad bridge hack will quickly be extradited to the US after he was reportedly arrested at an Israeli airport whereas boarding a flight to Russia.
Alexander Gurevich will likely be investigated for his alleged involvement in a number of “pc crimes,” together with laundering thousands and thousands of {dollars} and transferring stolen property allegedly linked to the Nomad Bridge hack in 2022, The Jerusalem Put up reported on Could 5.
Gurevich returned to Israel from an abroad journey on April 19 however was ordered to look earlier than the Jerusalem District Court docket for an extradition listening to quickly after, in keeping with the report.
On April 29, Gurevich modified his title in Israel’s Inhabitants Registry to “Alexander Block” and obtained a passport beneath that title at Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport the following day.
He was arrested on the identical airport two days later, on Could 1, whereas ready to board a flight to Russia.
Gurevich allegedly recognized a vulnerability within the Nomad bridge, which he exploited and stole roughly $2.89 million price of tokens from in August 2022.
Dozens of copycat hackers found and capitalized on the safety vulnerability quickly after, resulting in a complete lack of $190 million.
Gurevich allegedly reached out to a Nomad govt on Telegram
Prosecutors allege that shortly after the hack, Gurevich messaged Nomad’s chief expertise officer, James Prestwich, on Telegram utilizing a pretend id, admitting that he had been “amateurishly” searching for a crypto protocol to take advantage of.
He allegedly apologized for “the difficulty he triggered Prestwich and his workforce” and voluntarily transferred about $162,000 right into a restoration pockets the corporate had arrange.
Prestwich advised Gurevich that Nomad would pay him 10% of the worth of the property he had stolen, to which Gurevich responded that he would seek the advice of his lawyer. Nonetheless, Nomad by no means heard again from him after that.
Sooner or later through the negotiations, Gurevich demanded a reward of $500,000 for figuring out the vulnerability.
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US federal authorities filed an eight-count indictment towards Gurevich within the Northern District of California on Aug. 16, 2023, along with acquiring a warrant for his arrest. California is the place the workforce behind the Nomad bridge is predicated.
The US submitted a proper extradition request in December 2024, the Put up famous.
The cash laundering prices that Gurevich faces carry a most of 20 years, considerably harsher than what he would face in Israel.
Gurevich is believed to have arrived in Israel a couple of days earlier than the $190 million exploit occurred, prompting Israeli officers to consider he carried out the assault whereas in Israel.
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