Hackers have stolen approximately $90 million from Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex. The “Predatory Sparrow” group, a skilled pro-Israel hacking collective, took credit for the cyberattack and claimed that Iran used the exchange to circumvent international sanctions. However, in a bizarre move, the hackers transferred the stolen cryptocurrency to digital wallets they don’t control, rendering the funds effectively unusable.
Nobitex acknowledged the incident on its website, suspending access to the crypto exchange until further notice. Crypto-tracking firms Elliptic and TRM Labs confirmed that the stolen cryptocurrency was sent to “wallets” or crypto accounts with expletives referencing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This hack marks a significant escalation in Israel and Iran’s years-long cyberwar, where arch-enemies have conducted digital spying and data-destroying attacks for tactical advantage. The Predatory Sparrow group has previously targeted Iranian steel mills, gas stations, and even TV broadcasters.
Cybersecurity experts suspect that the hackers’ true motives may not be anti-governmentarian as claimed, but rather to disrupt Iran’s financial systems during its conflict with Israel. As Iranians rely heavily on cryptocurrency due to shrinking access to financial resources, this attack could have far-reaching consequences for ordinary citizens.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/18/middleeast/pro-israel-hackers-iran-crypto