On June 18th, a pro-Israel hacker collective, “Predatory Sparrow,” executed a significant cyberattack against Nobitex, Iran’s primary cryptocurrency exchange. The hackers destroyed more than $90 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were not stolen for profit, but rather rendered unusable, indicating a political motive. The attack occurred soon after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on Iran’s Bank Sepah. The group asserted that Nobitex was used by the Iranian government to evade sanctions. Nobitex acknowledged the incident and suspended its operations. The hackers, using the pseudonym “Gonjeshke Darande,” warned they would release Nobitex’s source code. Predatory Sparrow has previously attacked Iranian gas stations and a steel mill. The group’s actions are linked to periods of geopolitical conflict, and the current attack is likely part of the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel. The attack highlights the vulnerability of cryptocurrency exchanges to politically motivated cyberattacks.
