Israeli Man Accused of Spying for Iran in Exchange for Crypto

In brief

Israeli authorities have arrested a 27-year-old Tel Aviv man on espionage charges after he allegedly completed intelligence tasks for Iranian operatives in exchange for crypto payments.

The suspect allegedly carried out various missions, including photographing sensitive locations and spray-painting politically motivated graffiti, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Tel Aviv District Police announced in a joint statement  released  to various local media on Monday.

Organizations behind the espionage activities "reach out through social media platforms," the agencies said, urging citizens and residents of Israel "not to engage with foreign actors or carry out any missions on their behalf," as cited in a  report  from local media outlet Arutz Sheva.

The arrests come as cyberattacks linked to the  Israel–Iran conflict  have intensified, with the conflict causing uncertainty in crypto markets.

Last week, a pro-Israel hacker group  claimed responsibility  for an exploit that drained roughly $90 million worth of crypto from Iranian exchange Nobitex, citing ties between the platform and Iranian intelligence services.

Crypto markets have since  eased  by Monday after President Trump claimed that a  ceasefire  mediated by Qatar is being discussed.

At the time of writing, Israel maintained warnings for citizens to take shelter, claiming a third Iranian missile barrage to be incoming, per an  update  from the Associated Press.

In the Sunday operation, authorities seized computers and digital storage devices suspected of being linked and used for communication with Iranian handlers working with Or Beilin, a Tel Aviv resident.

After his arrest, Beilin was brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, which decided to extend his detention to June 26, pending investigation.

Beilin joins two others already in custody by Israeli police, including Dmitri Cohen, 28, from Haifa.

Cohen was arrested last month on suspicion of gathering intelligence on Amit Yardeni, who was set to marry Avner Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a separate  report  from the Times of Israel.

Cohen was reportedly promised $500 for each task and received thousands in crypto since working with Iranian agents. Another individual was arrested in the Sharon region, though the 19-year-old suspect was not named in local reports.

Decrypt reached out to Shin Bet and the Israel Police to confirm identities and if the arrests formed a pattern.