Gonjeshke Darande (Predatory Sparrow)
A pro-Israel hacktivist group (Persian: Gonjeshke Darande, 'Predatory Sparrow') active since ~2021 that has run destructive cyberattacks on Iranian targets. In June 2025 it claimed the Nobitex crypto-exchange breach and the Bank Sepah attack, burning ~$90M to make a political statement.
Also known as: Predatory Sparrow, Gonjeshke Darande
On attribution: The group self-identifies and claims its operations publicly. Media reporting suggests links to Israeli military intelligence; the Israeli government has not officially acknowledged any connection.
Overview
Gonjeshke Darande ("Predatory Sparrow") is a pro-Israel hacktivist group that first appeared around 2021 and has conducted destructive cyberattacks against Iranian infrastructure (including reported operations against Iranian steel facilities and fuel systems). It frames its actions as targeting the Iranian regime and the IRGC. [1][2]
June 2025 financial-sector operations
Amid the Israel–Iran conflict, the group claimed an attack on the state-owned Bank Sepah (June 17, 2025) and, the next day, the Nobitex cryptocurrency exchange — draining and "burning" more than $90 million by sending it to provably unspendable vanity addresses bearing anti-IRGC messages, and publishing Nobitex's source code. The aim was disruption and messaging rather than financial gain. [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
Linked scams & cases
Sources (2)
See also
- CluCoin (CLU)TokensA Miami-based crypto token (CLU) that ran a 2021 ICO and pivoted to NFTs and a metaverse game. Founder Austin Michael Taylor ('DNPthree') secretly siphoned ~$1.14M of investor funds into online casinos; he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced in 2025 to 27 months.
- Gotbit (crypto market manipulation)Market manipulationA prominent crypto 'market maker' that the U.S. DOJ says ran wash-trading/market-manipulation services (2018–2024) to fake trading volume for token clients (including Saitama and Robo Inu) and win exchange listings. Charged in the FBI's 'Operation Token Mirrors'; founder Aleksei Andriunin pleaded guilty in 2025 and Gotbit forfeited $23M.
- Wolf (WOLF) memecoin
This page was last updated on Jun 15, 2026. View revision history.