Key Takeaways
- Iran and Israel are using cryptocurrency to pay spies.
- The Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet said two Israeli men accepted crypto payments from Iran.
- Or Beilin and Dimitri Cohen reportedly carried out tasks including photographing military bases and the homes of public officials.
Two Israeli men accused of spying for Iran were paid thousands of dollars in crypto, the Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet said on Monday, June 23.
Or Beilin and Dimitri Cohen allegedly received thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency for assignments, including photographing military installations and the homes of public officials.
Israelis Arrested for Spying
As first reported by Kan News, Beilin and Cohen, both described as Jewish Israelis, have been arrested on suspicion of spying under the direction of Iranian intelligence officials.
Cohen was allegedly recruited via a job-search website popular among Russian-speaking immigrants and carried out multiple missions from mid-April until his arrest on May 27.
Under interrogation, Cohen admitted that he suspected the assignments were for espionage but continued, “out of greed.”
Likewise, Beilin allegedly maintained contact with his Iranian handler for several months. Israeli authorities said he carried out tasks including photographing homes of public officials, military bases and spraying graffiti.
Bitcoin Payments
According to investigators, Cohen was paid $500 in Bitcoin for each mission he completed.
Meanwhile, Beilin reportedly received thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency for his efforts.
Israel and Iran
As the war between Israel and Iran wages on, crypto payments have emerged as a key tool for espionage on both sides.
On Sunday, Iran executed Majid Mosayebi, who was convicted of transmitting confidential information to Mossad in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
In another instance of the trend, Eduard Yusupov, who was indicted on espionage charges in March, reportedly received crypto worth tens of thousands of dollars from Iran.
Outside of officially state-sponsored espionage, the pro-Israeli hacking group, Gonjeshke Darande, recently took credit for hacking Iran’s Nobitex crypto exchange.
In response to the incident, Iran’s central bank has ordered crypto exchanges in the country to restrict their operating hours.
