By Mark Hunter
1 day agoTue Jun 24 2025 07:52:47
Reading Time: 2 minutes
- Israeli authorities have arrested a Tel Aviv man accused of spying for Iran in exchange for cryptocurrency
- The suspect has photographed military sites and public figures’ homes at the request of Iranian handlers
- He has reportedly been paid thousands of dollars in crypto and is part of a growing trend of digital-age espionage
A 27-year-old man from Tel Aviv has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran after allegedly carrying out surveillance missions in exchange for cryptocurrency. According to officials from the Israeli Shin Bet security office, the suspect was recruited online and directed to photograph military installations, homes of senior officials, and even paint graffiti in public areas, all while receiving thousands of dollars in crypto as payment. The arrest is part of a broader wave of espionage cases involving online recruitment and crypto payouts and comes as the two countries prepare to step back from the brink of all-out war.
Iran Directed Operations, Says Israel
The alleged spy was arrested Sunday after being spotted photographing key military sites and civilian locations, including properties belonging to senior Israeli public figures. In the hours following his arrest, investigators revealed that the man was in long-term contact with an Iranian operative, who guided him over several months to complete intelligence-gathering tasks inside Israel. In return he allegedly received thousands of dollars in digital assets in a clear attempt to keep the payments secret.
Police searched the man’s home in Tel Aviv and confiscated multiple electronic devices, including phones and computers believed to contain records of communication with his Iranian contact. Authorities presented the case before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court, which extended his detention until June 26 to allow further investigation. Officials have not yet released his name but confirmed that he is one of several recent cases where Israeli citizens were recruited for espionage through social media platforms.
Not the First, And Likely Not the Last
The case closely mirrors another incident involving Dmitri Cohen, a 28-year-old from Haifa, who was also recruited by Iran to carry out surveillance in Israel. Cohen, too, was paid in crypto—about $500 per task—to track and photograph high-profile individuals, including Prime Minister Netanyahu’s future daughter-in-law.
Another teenager, just 19 years old, Cohen was arrested last month for leaking sensitive information amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. These arrests are part of what Israeli authorities now describe as a growing trend: intelligence services in enemy states using social media to reach ordinary citizens and cryptocurrency to mask the trail.
A Shin Bet stated that they now considered this “a trend,” warning that what might seem like a harmless request to snap a photo or tag a location could result in real-world targeting by Iranian operatives. “With missiles falling, we understand the consequences of seemingly innocent actions,” he added. Israel’s internal security services are urging citizens to be vigilant, stressing that Iranian agents and affiliated groups are actively scouting for new recruits online.
