Israeli Man Accused of Spying for Iran in Exchange for Crypto

Israeli authorities have detained a 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident suspected of espionage activities for Iran, allegedly funded through cryptocurrency payments. The arrest underscores growing concerns about digital currencies being exploited for illicit intelligence operations.

The suspect reportedly engaged in surveillance tasks—photographing officials' residences, documenting military installations, and executing graffiti campaigns—at the direction of Iranian operatives. Investigators confiscated computers and storage devices believed to contain communications with handlers.

Shin Bet and Israeli police highlighted persistent efforts by Iranian-linked groups to recruit assets via social media. The case marks another instance where cryptocurrency's pseudonymity is Leveraged to obscure cross-border intelligence financing.