On June 24, Israeli police and Shin Bet arrested three individuals suspected of spying for Iran. Two of the suspects allegedly received crypto payments for carrying out surveillance and intelligence tasks. The suspects were arrested in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and the Sharon region.
Israeli authorities detained a 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident on Sunday. They accused him of photographing military bases and the homes of public officials. He also spray-painted graffiti allegedly linked to Iranian instructions. During the arrest, police seized computers and phones used to communicate with an Iranian agent. Investigators stated that he received thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency for completing these tasks.
On Monday, the man appeared before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court. A judge ordered his detention extended until June 26. His name remains undisclosed.
The second suspect, identified as Dmitri Cohen, is a 28-year-old resident of Haifa. Authorities claim he gathered intelligence on Amit Yardeni, the future daughter-in-law of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yardeni was set to marry Avner Netanyahu, but the wedding was postponed.
Cohen reportedly photographed Yardeni’s home and surrounding areas. He sent the images to an Iranian handler using a phone used only for espionage. The handler allegedly promised $500 per task, and Cohen received crypto payments worth several thousand dollars since their first contact.
On Monday, prosecutors filed an affidavit against Cohen. The Haifa District Attorney’s Office is preparing formal charges. The investigation links him to activity from the weeks leading up to the canceled wedding.
The third arrest involved a 19-year-old from the Sharon region. Authorities accused the individual of sharing classified military information with an Iranian operative during the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The suspect’s identity has not been made public.
The Times of Israel reported that this case follows similar arrests made earlier in the conflict. In previous incidents, the courts placed gag orders on details about the suspects. Officials said multiple Israeli citizens have been arrested in past years over similar charges, though few cases reached trial.
In October 2024, Israeli police detained seven Jewish Israelis in Haifa, all originally from Azerbaijan. Those individuals reportedly carried out over 600 missions for Iran. They were accused of photographing Nevatim and Ramat David airbases and receiving crypto payments for each assignment.
The arrests highlight the growing use of cryptocurrency in state-sponsored spying. Crypto payments help agents avoid traditional financial tracking. The use of digital wallets and blockchain offers a discreet way to transfer money for covert missions.
Beyond Israel, intelligence agencies are watching similar patterns in other regions. As crypto tools become more available, so do opportunities for misuse in espionage and cyber operations.
Last week, reports said Gonjeshke Darande, a pro-Israel hacker group, exploited Nobitex, Iran’s largest crypto exchange. The hack reportedly caused a loss of $81.7 million across different blockchain networks.
