Iran’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, is slowly coming back online after a major cyberattack. The exchange was hacked earlier this month by a pro-Israel hacking group called Gonjeshke Darande.
Services Begin to Return for Verified Users
This group stole around $100 million worth of digital coins from Nobitex, making it one of the worst crypto hacks of the year.
Now, Nobitex has started restoring its services, but only for users who have completed identity verification. These users will be the first to get access to their digital wallets. The exchange said that spot wallet users — those who deal in regular buying and selling of crypto — will be given first priority. Other types of wallet services will be restored step by step in the coming days.
Nobitex has clearly stated that this process is not happening all at once. It is a gradual process, and users should not worry if they do not immediately see their wallet balances. The system is checking all information to make sure everything is accurate and secure before showing balances. The exchange warned that there might be some delays due to technical or security issues. Still, they aim to complete the process by mid-week.
Nobitex also reminded users not to deposit cryptocurrency into old wallet addresses. These old addresses are now useless because of a system upgrade. Any coins sent to them might be lost forever. If users had these old wallet addresses saved in other apps or mining machines, they should delete them immediately and wait for new ones from Nobitex.
Hacker Group Destroys Millions in Political Cyberattack
The cyberattack on Nobitex was not just about money. It was also a political act. The hacker group, Gonjeshke Darande, claimed responsibility and said they attacked Nobitex because of its links to the Iranian government. The group is known to be pro-Israel and said the exchange was helping fund harmful activities.
After breaking into the system, the hackers burned $90 million worth of cryptocurrency — meaning they destroyed it so no one could use it. On top of that, they released the full source code of Nobitex, making its inner workings public. This move made the attack not just damaging but also humiliating for the company.
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Nobitex is considered the most important crypto exchange in Iran. According to recent data, it processed $11 billion worth of crypto activity. In comparison, the next ten Iranian exchanges combined only handled about $7.5 billion. This shows how much Iranians relied on Nobitex for their crypto needs.
A report also revealed that the exchange has ties with some shady actors, including groups and people under international sanctions. This may have made it a bigger target for hackers who wanted to make a political statement.
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Following the Nobitex hack, the Iranian government has become stricter with crypto businesses. Now, local crypto exchanges in Iran are only allowed to run their services between 10 AM and 8 PM. This move is likely meant to make it easier for the government to monitor and control activity, especially during working hours.
Meanwhile, 2025 has seen a rise in government-backed hacking. State-sponsored cyberattacks have become more common, especially in the world of cryptocurrency. North Korea is currently leading in this area, using hacking to steal massive amounts of digital money.
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Just earlier this year, North Korean hackers stole $1.5 billion worth of crypto from another exchange, Bybit. This one attack accounted for almost 70% of all cryptocurrency losses from hacks this year. Officials in South Korea have also warned that North Korean hackers are now using artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, to plan and carry out these attacks more effectively.
As Nobitex struggles to recover, the hack is another reminder of how dangerous the world of cryptocurrency can be. With the added element of political motives, crypto exchanges around the world are facing increasing risks, both from hackers and from new rules.
