Suspect in $190M Nomad Hack to Be Extradited to the US: Report

A Russian-Israeli citizen, alleged to be behind the $190 million Nomad Bridge hack, will soon be extradited to the United States to face possible money laundering charges. Alexander Gurevich's case has been a long time coming, with a series of events unfolding that have brought him to this point.

Gurevich's alleged involvement in the $190 million Nomad Bridge hack is still shrouded in mystery, but it is clear that he played a significant role in exploiting a vulnerability in the platform. This vulnerability allowed him to steal roughly $2.89 million worth of tokens from the platform in August 2022. However, his actions had far-reaching consequences, with dozens of copycat hackers discovering and capitalizing on the security flaw, resulting in a total loss of $190 million.

According to reports, Gurevich was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel while waiting to board a flight to Russia. His arrest comes after he had recently changed his name in Israel's Population Registry to "Alexander Block" and received a passport under that name just hours before his arrest. This has raised questions about Gurevich's intentions and the extent of his involvement in the hack.

Prosecutors have alleged that Gurevich messaged Nomad's chief technology officer, James Prestwich, on Telegram shortly after the hack, admitting to being "amateurishly" seeking a crypto protocol to exploit. He also allegedly apologized for the trouble he caused and voluntarily transferred about $162,000 into a recovery wallet set up by Nomad. However, Gurevich later demanded a reward of $500,000 for identifying the vulnerability.

US federal authorities filed an eight-count indictment against Gurevich in the Northern District of California on August 16, 2023, and obtained a warrant for his arrest shortly after. The US submitted a formal extradition request in December 2024, citing that Gurevich faces money laundering charges that carry a maximum of 20 years.

Gurevich's case has significant implications, not only for the Nomad Bridge but also for the global cryptocurrency community. His alleged involvement in the hack and subsequent negotiations with Nomad's executives raises questions about the level of cooperation between hackers and companies in the industry.

The Background: Gurevich's Alleged Involvement in the Nomad Bridge Hack

Gurevich, a Russian-Israeli citizen, is believed to have arrived in Israel just days before the $190 million exploit occurred. This has led Israeli officials to believe that he carried out the attack while in Israel.

The Aftermath: Gurevich's Arrest and Extradition

Gurevich was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport on May 1, while waiting to board a flight to Russia. His arrest comes after a series of events that have brought him to this point, including his recent name change and passport application.

The Investigation: Gurevich's Alleged Involvement in Money Laundering

Gurevich faces money laundering charges that carry a maximum of 20 years. These charges are significantly harsher than the penalties he would face in Israel, raising questions about the level of cooperation between hackers and companies in the industry.