Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, has been hacked for over $81 million in digital assets. The attack comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with hacker group Gonjeshke Darande (Predatory Sparrow) taking credit.
How the Hack Unfolded
- Attack method: Exploited “vanity address” vulnerability
- Stolen funds:
- $49M through primary attacker address
- Remaining $32M+ across Tron & EVM chains
- Exchange response:
- Suspended access immediately
- Claims user assets in cold storage remain safe
Hackers’ Motive: Sanctions Evasion Claims
The attackers allege Nobitex helped Iran bypass international sanctions, stating:
“Nobitex is a key regime tool for financing terrorism and violating sanctions… Take action before it’s too late.”
They threatened to release internal data within 24 hours, warning users to withdraw funds.
Geopolitical Context
- Comes amid Israel-Iran tensions
- Follows Trump’s denial of mediating peace talks
- Raises questions about crypto’s role in geopolitical conflicts