On May 6, 2025, Alexander Gurevich – the main suspect in the Nomad Bridge attack that caused $190 million in damages – was arrested at an airport in Israel while trying to leave with a new identity. This incident reveals the dangerous pitfalls of blockchain technology. Let's analyze in detail.
Arrest at the Airport: Gurevich Changes Identity
Alexander Gurevich, 35 years old, holding dual citizenship #Israel and #Nga , was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel, last Thursday while preparing to fly to Moscow. According to The Jerusalem Post, Gurevich had just changed his name to 'Alexander Block' and received a new passport days earlier, but was intercepted by Israeli authorities at the request of extradition from the U.S. The U.S. accuses Gurevich of being the mastermind behind the 2022 Nomad Bridge attack, causing $190 million in damages, with 8 charges including money laundering, wire fraud, and computer intrusion, according to an indictment in Northern California in 2023.
The Nomad Bridge Attack: A Fatal Flaw
In August 2022, Nomad – a cross-chain bridge – was attacked after an exploiter discovered a vulnerability in the smart contract, allowing them to copy and modify transactions to withdraw funds without verification. Gurevich is believed to be the first to exploit this vulnerability, withdrawing $2.89 million in tokens, triggering a 'digital run.' Within minutes, hundreds of imitators (90% of related addresses, according to Coinbase) copied the method, withdrawing a total of $88 million. When Nomad locked the system, only $651 remained in the smart contract wallet. Many initial wallets were funded through Tornado Cash – a controversial coin mixing tool.
Three days later, Gurevich was accused of contacting Nomad's CTO, James Prestwich, under a false identity, apologizing for 'amateurish experimentation' and returning $162,000 in tokens, while demanding a $500,000 reward. Nomad offered to pay 10%, but the negotiations failed.
Consequences and Recovery of Nomad
Nomad relaunched the bridge at the end of 2022, but the 'scar' remains. The company offered a 10% reward for anyone returning the stolen tokens, recovering $37 million, but most of the assets had disappeared across hundreds of addresses, some linked to money laundering tools. This attack is a testament to the risks of cross-chain bridges, similar to hacks causing $2 billion in damages since 2022.
Impact on the Crypto Market
The arrest of Gurevich brings many signals:
Strengthened legal actions: The actions of the U.S. and Israel show a strong effort to crack down on crypto crime, similar to the KNA sanctions in Myanmar (the 'pig butchering' scam causing billions in damages).
Risk Warning: Vulnerabilities in bridges like Nomad highlight the need for higher security, especially as solutions like BitcoinOS (transferring $BTC to Cardano without a bridge) are emerging.
Market Psychology: Although it raises short-term concerns, the arrest of the suspect could boost long-term confidence, supporting prices $BTC and $ETH .
Future Prospects
The arrest of Gurevich is a step forward in the fight against blockchain crime, but it also raises questions about the safety of cross-chain bridges. Nomad, although partially recovered, remains a costly lesson. With the crypto market growing (fund inflows reached $3.4 billion last week), projects need to invest heavily in security to avoid repeating the tragedy.
Conclusion: Can Nomad Bridge Regain Trust?
Alexander Gurevich, the main suspect in the $190 million Nomad Bridge attack, was arrested in Israel after changing his name to escape. The incident exposed a fatal flaw in the cross-chain bridge, causing significant damage and triggering a wave of imitation. Although Nomad recovered $37 million, the lesson about security remains. Crypto investors and projects need to be more vigilant than ever to protect assets in the digital space.
Risk Warning: Crypto investment carries high risks due to price volatility and legal uncertainties. Please consider carefully before participating.