Iran's central bank has introduced new regulations for local cryptocurrency exchanges following a significant cyberattack on the Nobitex platform. Hackers stole $100 million in cryptocurrency, prompting the need for increased security.
Cyberattack on Nobitex
Iran's leading cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, was hit by an attack carried out by a pro-Israel hacker group. The stolen funds include Bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrencies. The hackers transferred the stolen assets to special addresses, making them inaccessible. Experts from Chainalysis indicate that the attack aimed to harm Iran's financial system amid ongoing conflicts.
New Regulations for Exchanges
In response to the cyberattack, Iran's central bank has limited the operating hours of cryptocurrency exchanges from 10 AM to 8 PM. This measure is intended to allow the government to monitor for potential new attacks and control the usage of cryptocurrencies for transferring money abroad, given the existing international tensions.
Nobitex's Response and Current Situation
Following the cyberattack, Nobitex has suspended access to its servers from external sources to prevent further losses. The exchange stated that the situation is under control and plans to use its backup fund to reimburse affected users. Additionally, the technical team is working to move remaining assets to safer offline storage.
The implementation of new regulatory frameworks will aid Iran in better controlling its digital economy and protecting cryptocurrency assets in the face of global instability and internal threats.
