Israel Extradites Crypto Theft Suspect to U.S.

In the early hours of Thursday, October 29, Israel extradited Alexander Blok (Gurevich), a dual Israeli-Russian citizen, to the United States. U.S. authorities suspect Blok of stealing approximately $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, computer fraud, and money laundering. According to the Israeli State Prosecutor's Office, Blok was apprehended in May 2025 at Ben Gurion Airport while attempting to fly to Russia. The U.S. extradition request states that in late July 2022, Blok discovered a vulnerability in the Nomad system, designed for transferring cryptocurrencies between different blockchain networks. Investigators allege that Blok exploited an error in the digital token collateral verification mechanism, enabling him to withdraw tokens worth about $2.8 million on August 1, 2022, without providing the required collateral. He subsequently exchanged the stolen assets for other cryptocurrencies and moved them between electronic wallets in an attempt to conceal their origin. An Israeli district court ruled Blok extraditable, and the Supreme Court rejected his appeal, establishing two significant legal precedents. The court ruled that unauthorized access to a computer system includes exploiting programming vulnerabilities and errors. Furthermore, the court determined that the public nature of the blockchain does not preclude money laundering, as cryptocurrency wallet owners can remain anonymous and numerous transactions obscure the funds' trail. Blok's subsequent request for further judicial review was also denied. The extradition proceeded after all legal procedures in Israel were completed, involving the police and Interpol.