developing· Security· Updated
Israeli Extradited to US for $2.8 Million Crypto Fraud
Israel extradited Alexander Blok, a dual Israeli-Russian citizen also referred to as Gurevich or Gurvitz, to the United States on Thursday to face charges of cryptocurrency fraud, computer crimes, and money laundering.
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What happened
- 01Alexander Blok was extradited from Israel to the United States on Thursday to face charges over a $2.8 million cryptocurrency fraud.
- 02United States authorities accuse Blok of exploiting a vulnerability in the Nomad cryptocurrency system to withdraw digital tokens without collateral in August 2022.
- 03Blok allegedly converted the stolen tokens into various cryptocurrencies and transferred them between digital wallets to obscure their origin.
- 04The suspect was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while attempting to fly to Russia, with reports conflicting on whether it occurred in May 2023 or May 2025.
- 05The Israeli Supreme Court rejected Blok's appeal against his extradition, clearing the way for his transfer to United States custody.
- 06The legal proceedings in Israel established a precedent that exploiting security flaws and programming errors constitutes unauthorized computer intrusion.
- 07Israeli courts also ruled that the public nature of blockchain technology does not prevent the applicability of money laundering charges.
United States authorities accuse Blok of exploiting a security vulnerability in the Nomad cryptocurrency transfer system in late July 2022. He allegedly altered the system's code to withdraw digital tokens worth approximately $2.8 million on August 1, 2022, without depositing any actual collateral, subsequently moving the funds between electronic wallets to conceal their origin.
Blok was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while attempting to travel to Russia. While NEWSru Israel and Kikar HaShabbat reported his arrest occurred in May 2025, Kipa reported it took place in May 2023. The extradition was coordinated by the International Department of the Israeli State Prosecutor's Office, the Israel Police, and Interpol.
During the legal proceedings, Israeli courts declared Blok extraditable and the Supreme Court rejected his appeal. The rulings established significant legal precedents in Israel, affirming that exploiting programming errors constitutes unauthorized computer access and that the public nature of blockchain does not prevent money laundering charges.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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Israeli Extradited to US for $2.8 Million Crypto Fraud