Israeli spy accused of earning over $5,000 in crypto from Iran
Israeli authorities have arrested a 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident accused of spying for Iran in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
The suspect allegedly conducted intelligence tasks, including photographing sensitive military sites and spray-painting politically motivated graffiti, according to a joint statement from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Tel Aviv District Police.
The agencies warned citizens against engaging with foreign actors or undertaking missions on their behalf, citing the use of social media platforms by espionage networks to recruit operatives.
The suspect reportedly received payments of approximately $500 in cryptocurrency for each task, accumulating thousands of dollars over time.
This arrest follows the detention of two other Israeli citizens suspected of similar espionage activities linked to Iranian operatives.
One of the previously arrested individuals, Dmitri Cohen, 28, from Haifa, was charged with gathering intelligence on Amit Yardeni, who was to marry Avner Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Cohen also allegedly received thousands in crypto payments for his activities.
The third suspect, a 19-year-old from the Sharon region, was also taken into custody, though their identity has not been disclosed.
During the recent operation, authorities seized computers and digital storage devices believed to be used for communication with Iranian handlers.
The arrested Tel Aviv resident, Or Beilin, was brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court, which extended his detention pending investigation.
These arrests come amid heightened cyberattacks connected to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which has also affected cryptocurrency markets.
Last week, a pro-Israel hacker group claimed responsibility for stealing approximately $90 million in crypto from the Iranian exchange Nobitex, citing links between the platform and Iranian intelligence.
Israeli officials continue to advise citizens to remain cautious as tensions persist, with reports of incoming missile threats from Iran.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
A decade-long tug-of-war ends: "Crypto Market Structure Bill" sprints to the Senate
At the Blockchain Association Policy Summit, U.S. Senators Gillibrand and Lummis stated that the "Crypto Market Structure Bill" is expected to have its draft released by the end of this week, with revisions and hearings scheduled for next week. The bill aims to establish clear boundaries for digital assets by adopting a classification-based regulatory framework, clearly distinguishing between digital commodities and digital securities, and providing a pathway for exemptions for mature blockchains to ensure that regulation does not stifle technological progress. The bill also requires digital commodity trading platforms to register with the CFTC and establishes a joint advisory committee to prevent regulatory gaps or overlapping oversight. Summary generated by Mars AI. The accuracy and completeness of this summary, generated by the Mars AI model, is still being iteratively updated.
Gold surpasses the $4,310 mark—Is the "bull frenzy" returning?
Boosted by expectations of further easing from the Federal Reserve, gold has risen for four consecutive days. Technical indicators show strong bullish signals, but there remains one more hurdle before reaching a new all-time high.
Trend Research: Why Are We Still Bullish on ETH?
Against the backdrop of relatively accommodative expectations in both China and the US, which suppress asset downside volatility, and with extreme fear and capital sentiment not yet fully recovered, ETH remains in a favorable "buy zone."
Trending news
MoreCrypto prices
More
