A Russian-Israeli citizen allegedly concerned within the $190 million Nomad bridge hack will quickly be extradited to the US after he was reportedly arrested at an Israeli airport whereas boarding a flight to Russia.
Alexander Gurevich will likely be investigated for his alleged involvement in a number of “pc crimes,” together with laundering thousands and thousands of {dollars} and transferring stolen property allegedly linked to the Nomad Bridge hack in 2022, The Jerusalem Put up reported on Could 5.
Gurevich returned to Israel from an abroad journey on April 19 however was ordered to look earlier than the Jerusalem District Court docket for an extradition listening to quickly after, based on the report.
On April 29, Gurevich modified his identify in Israel’s Inhabitants Registry to “Alexander Block” and acquired a passport below that identify at Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport the following day.
He was arrested on the identical airport two days later, on Could 1, whereas ready to board a flight to Russia.
Gurevich allegedly recognized a vulnerability within the Nomad bridge, which he exploited and stole roughly $2.89 million value of tokens from in August 2022.
Dozens of copycat hackers found and capitalized on the safety vulnerability quickly after, resulting in a complete lack of $190 million.
Gurevich allegedly reached out to a Nomad government on Telegram
Prosecutors allege that shortly after the hack, Gurevich messaged Nomad’s chief expertise officer, James Prestwich, on Telegram utilizing a pretend identification, admitting that he had been “amateurishly” in search of a crypto protocol to use.
He allegedly apologized for “the difficulty he brought about Prestwich and his workforce” and voluntarily transferred about $162,000 right into a restoration pockets the corporate had arrange.
Prestwich informed Gurevich that Nomad would pay him 10% of the worth of the belongings he had stolen, to which Gurevich responded that he would seek the advice of his lawyer. Nevertheless, Nomad by no means heard again from him after that.
In some unspecified time in the future in the course of the negotiations, Gurevich demanded a reward of $500,000 for figuring out the vulnerability.
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US federal authorities filed an eight-count indictment in opposition to Gurevich within the Northern District of California on Aug. 16, 2023, along with acquiring a warrant for his arrest. California is the place the workforce behind the Nomad bridge is predicated.
The US submitted a formal extradition request in December 2024, the Put up famous.
The cash laundering fees that Gurevich faces carry a most of 20 years, considerably harsher than what he would face in Israel.
Gurevich is believed to have arrived in Israel a couple of days earlier than the $190 million exploit occurred, prompting Israeli officers to imagine he carried out the assault whereas in Israel.
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