Following the theft of over $90 million in digital assets from Nobitex, Iran has imposed trading restrictions on cryptocurrency exchanges.
Trading Restrictions in Iran
Iran's central bank has imposed a curfew on crypto exchanges, limiting trading to between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. local time. This measure responds to fears of additional cyberattacks amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Hacker Group Takes Responsibility
The hacking group Gonjeshke Darande, known as 'Predatory Sparrow', claimed responsibility for the attack on Nobitex, stating that the exchange was targeted due to its use as a 'sanctions violation tool'. Several cybersecurity firms noted that the hack was not profit-driven, as all stolen assets were sent to burn addresses.
Concerns Over Cyberattacks and Source Code Disclosure
After the theft, the hackers threatened to reveal crucial technical details about the platform. They followed through with their threat by publishing Nobitex's full source code and server information, which may pose additional risks for remaining user assets as other cybercriminals could exploit this information.
The imposition of trading restrictions in Iran is a response to the recent cyberattack, highlighting the importance of security and protection of cryptocurrency exchanges amid current geopolitical tensions.