Crypto Hacker Arrested in Israel for $190 Million Theft
Alexander Gurevich, a dual citizen of Russia and Israel, was apprehended at Ben-Gurion Airport on May 1. He was trying to escape to Russia under an assumed name.
Gurevich, 47, is linked to the 2022 hack of Nomad, a US-based crypto bridge. The incident led to the theft of nearly $190 million in digital assets. According to The Jerusalem Post, Gurevich exploited a flaw in Nomadās system, stealing about $2.89 million in tokens.
He then reached out to Nomadās CTO under a fake identity.Gurevich apologized, returned some funds, and asked for a $500,000 reward for uncovering the bug. When Nomad offered him 10% of the stolen assets,he stopped communicating.
Gurevich changed his name to āAlexander Blockā on April 29 and got a new passport the next day. Israeli police caught him before he could board his flight. He appeared in court on May 2, in handcuffs.
US prosecutors have charged Gurevich with eight counts, including computer fraud and money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Israelās State Attorneyās Office is pursuing his extradition, with a hearing set for Sunday.
Gurevich moved to Israel in 2017 but often traveled abroad, including to Africa.His potential sentance in the US is much harsher than under Israeli law.
