Israeli authorities have extradited Israeli-Russian citizen Alexander Block to the United States in a case tied to the alleged theft of $2.8 million from the Nomad blockchain bridge. The transfer followed a final ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court, which rejected his challenge to extradition.
U.S. prosecutors allege Block exploited a flaw in Nomad’s automated system to withdraw tokens without providing the backing assets. They further accuse him of converting the assets into other cryptocurrencies and moving them across digital wallets in an effort to hide their origin.
US case and extradition request
According to the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling, U.S. authorities charged Block in the Northern District of California in August 2023. The indictment includes eight counts involving computer offenses, transferring stolen property and money laundering.
The United States then submitted a formal extradition request in December 2024, beginning the legal process in Israel over whether Block could be sent to face the charges.
Arrest in Israel and earlier court approval
Block was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport in May 2025 as he was preparing to board a flight to Russia. Before the arrest, he had changed his surname from Gurevich to Block and obtained a passport under that new name.
In July 2025, the Jerusalem District Court approved his extradition to the United States. Block appealed that decision, disputing both the legal basis for the charges and the adequacy of the evidence presented against him.
Arguments over computer intrusion and money laundering
Block’s defense argued that the disputed transactions were carried out using functions already built into Nomad’s automated system. On that basis, his lawyers said the conduct did not amount to unlawful computer intrusion under Israeli law.
He also challenged the money laundering allegations, arguing that blockchain transfers are publicly visible and that this transparency weakened claims that he had tried to conceal the movement of funds.
Israel’s Supreme Court rejected those arguments. It held that using a programming vulnerability could still qualify as unlawful computer intrusion, even if the software technically permitted the transactions to go through. The court also said blockchain transparency does not rule out money laundering, because wallet activity may be public while the people controlling the wallets are not always identifiable.
Transfer to the US and next step
After Block’s appeals were exhausted, Israeli authorities coordinated his handover to the United States early on Oct. 29. The State Attorney’s Office said the extradition involved cooperation between its International Department, the Israel Police’s operational coordination division, and Interpol units.
With the extradition completed, the next confirmed step is for Block to face the U.S. criminal case described in the California indictment. The allegations against him, including the claims tied to the Nomad bridge exploit and the handling of the funds, will now proceed in the American court system.
Source: news.bitcoin.com