Israel Extradites Nomad Bridge Exploit Suspect to U.S.

Israel has extradited Alexander Block, formerly known as Alexander Gurevich, to the United States to face charges regarding the alleged theft of approximately $2.8 million from the crypto bridge Nomad in 2022, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post cited by Decrypt. Prosecutors allege that Block's exploit exposed a coding flaw that other users subsequently utilized to drain more than $186 million from a Nomad-controlled wallet.

Legal Ruling on Smart Contract Exploits

Prior to the transfer, Israel's Supreme Court rejected Block's appeal, ruling that exploiting a programming flaw can constitute unlawful computer intrusion even when software technically permitted the transaction. Block was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport in May 2025 while preparing to fly to Russia under a newly acquired passport and surname.

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of California indicted Block in August 2023 on four counts of computer fraud, one count of transporting stolen property, and three counts of money laundering. The United States formally requested his extradition in December 2024, which the Jerusalem District Court approved in July 2025.

Alleged Exploit Details

According to the U.S. extradition request outlined in the court judgment, a June 2022 software update introduced a flaw in Nomad's smart contracts. The vulnerability allowed users to receive tokens on one blockchain without locking up equivalent assets on another. Operating under the username "Bitlik," Block allegedly executed six test transfers followed by four main transfers around August 1, 2022, acquiring tokens worth over $2.8 million before attempting to conceal their origin through multiple wallets.

Nomad subsequently reached out to law enforcement after negotiations broke down. In December 2025, Nomad operator Illusory Systems faced a proposed Federal Trade Commission settlement requiring the return of recovered funds to un-reimbursed users.

Key facts

• Alexander Block was extradited from Israel to the U.S. over an alleged $2.8 million theft from crypto bridge Nomad.
• Israel's Supreme Court ruled that exploiting a programming flaw can count as unlawful computer intrusion.
• Block was indicted in August 2023 on four counts of computer fraud, one count of transporting stolen property, and three counts of money laundering.
• The initial June 2022 software update exposed a vulnerability that ultimately led to over $186 million being drained from Nomad wallets by various users.