Man from Bat Yam Under Arrest for $186 Million Cryptocurrency Theft in the U.S.
Rewritten Article:
Alexander Gurevich's Arrest and Alleged Cryptocurrency Heist
Alexander Gurevich, a 47-year-old dual citizen of Russia and Israel, found himself in hot water after an alleged crypto heist worth millions. According to reports, this Bat Yam resident was apprehended at Ben-Gurion Airport on May 1, 2025, as he was trying to escape to Russia under the new alias "Alexander Block."
Authorities accuse Gurevich of masterminding a digital heist targeting Nomad, a California-based blockchain company. The alleged theft involved software crimes, money laundering, and the transfer of stolen digital assets. The total amount stolen amounted to roughly $2.89 million in cryptocurrency tokens, causing significant damage to the company. However, other cybercriminals quickly followed suit, exploiting the same vulnerability and leading to a total loss of nearly $186 million, almost putting the company out of business, according to a local report.
The cyber attack came to light following an admission by Gurevich himself. He allegedly contacted Nomad's Chief Technology Officer on Telegram, acknowledging his attempts to probe the system and expressing regret for causing trouble. To add insult to injury, he even audaciously demanded a $500,000 reward for revealing the system's weakness, having previously returned $162,000.
In a stunning turn of events, Gurevich is said to have changed his name on April 29 and was issued a passport under his new identity the next day. His capture came swiftly, as he was arrested at the airport before embarking on a flight. He was brought to court soon after.
The Israeli State Attorney's Office International Department filed a petition to the Jerusalem District Court on May 2, aiming to secure Gurevich's extradition to the U.S. The Justice Minister, Yariv Levin, had already signed an order for his court appearance, just a few days prior after Gurevich's return to Israel on April 19, during the Passover holiday.
Gurevich, who obtained Israeli citizenship in 2017, appears to have spent the past few years living abroad, with stints in Africa, according to authorities. He was indicted in the U.S. in August 2023 on eight federal counts. The charges in America carry sentences of up to 20 years, far surpassing the three-year maximum for such crimes in Israel. Prosecutors filed the extradition request in December 2024.
Currently, Gurevich is being held in custody by Judge Einat Avman-Moller's court order. He is represented by the Public Defender's Office. The arrest was coordinated by the Israel Police National Fraud Unit and the Tel Aviv Fraud Division.
Further Reading: Deribit Plans to Enter U.S. Amid Trump's Pro-Crypto Parade
- The alleged crypto heist by Alexander Gurevich, a resident of Bat Yam, Israel, highlights the need for increased collaboration between technology firms, cybersecurity experts, and law enforcement agencies to combat digital crimes, given the far-reaching consequences of such incidents, as demonstrated by losses totaling nearly $186 million in this case.
- Amidst the general-news headlines about Alexander Gurevich's alleged crime-and-justice incident and the subsequent cybersecurity implications, it's worth noting that technology advancements, such as blockchain, continue to transform various sectors, including finance, with Deribit, a crypto derivatives exchange, planning to enter the US market, as reported in recent general-news articles.
