Israeli Authorities Have Arrested Alexander Gurevich, the Alleged Mastermind Behind the Nomad Bridge Exploit

Israeli authorities have arrested Alexander Gurevich, an Israeli and Russian national, for his alleged role in the 2022 Nomad Bridge hack. The hack resulted in an estimated $190 million in losses and ultimately led to the collapse of the crypto bridge platform.

Gurevich was apprehended at an Israeli airport as he was allegedly trying to change his identity. The suspect is now awaiting possible extradition to the United States.

According to local investigators, Gurevich was planning to leave Israel under a different name, which aroused suspicions among the authorities. They believe that Gurevich was a key figure in the Nomad Bridge attack, one of the most significant DeFi heists in recent times. The protocol, designed for facilitating seamless asset transfers between various blockchains, never fully recovered from the breach.

Earlier this year, U.S. officials had requested Gurevich’s extradition to face federal charges stemming from the hack. This move is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to step up efforts against cybercrime in the cryptocurrency domain.

American authorities have been increasing their efforts to pursue suspects abroad in cases related to digital asset theft and ransomware. In another case, a Ukrainian citizen was extradited to the U.S. for his alleged role in multiple ransomware attacks across the U.S. and Europe.

Additionally, U.S. prosecutors announced charges against the individual suspected of leading the Black Kingdom ransomware group. This group is accused of deploying a ransomware variant known as Dharma and targeting numerous victims, including a U.S. university and a children’s hospital.