{"id":74505,"date":"2025-06-19T03:58:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T03:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/?p=74505"},"modified":"2025-06-19T03:58:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T03:58:02","slug":"90m-vanishes-in-cyberattack-on-irans-top-crypto-exchange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/?p=74505","title":{"rendered":"$90M Vanishes in Cyberattack on Iran\u2019s Top Crypto Exchange"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iran\u2019s biggest crypto exchange just got hit with one of the most unusual hacks in recent memory. A group called Predatory Sparrow, reportedly linked to pro-Israel operatives, drained nearly $90 million from Nobitex on Wednesday. But instead of cashing out, the hackers sent the funds to wallets no one can access. That means the money is gone, burned, making the heist feel more like a political statement than a payday. Iranian officials have yet to comment on the breach, but the move is already being framed as a blow to the country\u2019s crypto-dependent operations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not Just a Hack, But a Statement<\/span><\/h2>\n

Blockchain watchers <\/span>like<\/span> Elliptic and TRM Labs tracked the stolen Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin to wallets that were loaded with <\/span>anti-Iran<\/span> messages.<\/span> These weren\u2019t ransom addresses or cold storage. They were essentially digital black holes. Whoever pulled this off wanted attention, not profits.<\/span><\/p>\n

95% of assets on Iran\u2019s Nobitex crypto exchange vanished after a hack by the Israeli-linked group \u201cPredatory Sparrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to military reporter Doron Kadosh, Nobitex was used by Iran to bypass sanctions via crypto. <\/p>\n

Foreign sources say wallet holdings dropped from $1.8\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/84y4awcUcj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Clash Report (@clashreport) June 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Nobitex has remained tight-lipped, only confirming it is investigating. But the exchange\u2019s known links to Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps are fueling theories that this was a direct hit on one of the country\u2019s backdoor financial pipelines. Nobitex serves over 7 million users and has long faced allegations of helping Iran sidestep sanctions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not the First Attack, and Probably Not the Last<\/span><\/h2>\n

This attack came on the heels of another breach targeting Iran\u2019s Bank Sepah, a state-run lender with deep military ties. Predatory Sparrow has claimed both attacks. If the name sounds familiar, it\u2019s the same group linked to previous cyber incidents that disrupted gas stations and caused fires at steel mills in Iran.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of this is happening as tensions between Iran and Israel heat up again. Cyberattacks have become part of the modern battlefield, and experts say we\u2019re likely to see more of this digital tit-for-tat. Since June 12, the volume of cyberattacks linked to this conflict has reportedly surged by over 700 percent.<\/span><\/p>\n

DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in June 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Why This One Feels Different<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most cybercriminals want to get rich. These hackers just wanted to make a point. Instead of stashing the stolen crypto, they destroyed it. That turns the attack into a kind of protest, spotlighting the way Iranian institutions allegedly use crypto to get around global restrictions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s also a warning shot. Not just to Iran, but to others watching this space, crypto exchanges, governments, and maybe even regulators now have fresh proof of how digital currencies can be used in geopolitical disputes.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Bigger Fight Playing Out Online<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is bigger than just one exchange. Mossad has reportedly been ramping up secret drone and cyber operations in Iran. <\/span>And<\/span> in response, the <\/span>Iranian<\/span> government shut down internet access across most of the country last week, citing national security. <\/span>That blackout disrupted nearly all civilian online activity <\/span>and made<\/span> it harder for citizens to <\/span>get<\/span> information or <\/span>move<\/span> money.<\/span><\/p>\n

DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in June<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What This Means for the Industry<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nobitex was already under pressure. U.S. lawmakers had raised concerns earlier this year about its alleged role in helping Iran\u2019s military dodge sanctions and finance ransomware campaigns. Now, this high-profile breach adds even more urgency to the calls for tighter oversight of how crypto platforms operate in sanctioned countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Comes Next<\/span><\/h2>\n

So far, <\/span>there\u2019s<\/span> no sign the lost funds can be recovered.<\/span> The wallets are inaccessible. That makes this a rare moment in crypto history, an attack not for money, but for messaging. <\/span>Cybersecurity experts are now <\/span>watching<\/span> closely to see if other exchanges <\/span>get<\/span> targeted next.<\/span><\/p>\n

With crypto becoming a weapon in international conflict, the Nobitex hack might be a turning point. Not just for Iran, but for the entire conversation around regulation, crypto\u2019s role in conflict zones, and what comes next when code and politics collide.<\/span><\/p>\n

DISCOVER:\u00a0<\/span>20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n


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\n Nearly $90 million was stolen from Iran\u2019s top crypto exchange, Nobitex, in a politically motivated cyberattack by Predatory Sparrow.
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\n The attackers sent funds to inaccessible wallets, effectively burning the crypto instead of profiting, turning the act into a public statement.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n Nobitex\u2019s ties to Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps have sparked speculation that the hack was aimed at dismantling financial workarounds to sanctions.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n This follows a wave of cyberattacks in Iran, with Predatory Sparrow previously targeting military-linked institutions and infrastructure.
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\n The incident highlights <\/span>growing<\/span> use of crypto in geopolitical conflict and has intensified calls for tighter regulation of exchanges in sanctioned nations.
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The post $90M Vanishes in Cyberattack on Iran\u2019s Top Crypto Exchange<\/a> appeared first on 99Bitcoins<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Iran\u2019s biggest crypto exchange just got hit with one of the most unusual hacks in recent memory. A group called Predatory Sparrow, reportedly linked to pro-Israel operatives, drained nearly $90 million from Nobitex on Wednesday. But instead of cashing out, the hackers sent the funds to wallets no one can access. That means the money […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-discovery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74505"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=74505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74505\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=74505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=74505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycryptomania.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=74505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}