In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. Department of Justice just dealt a major blow to Hamas by seizing over $200,000 in cryptocurrency funds. The terrorist organization continues to explore digital currencies despite previously claiming to abandon such methods.
At a glance:
• The U.S. Justice Department seized $201,400 in cryptocurrency meant for Hamas terrorist financing.
• The funds were part of a larger $1.5 million laundering operation that began in October 2024.
• Hamas used encrypted group chats to provide supporters with cryptocurrency donation addresses.
• Despite publicly claiming to stop using crypto in 2023, Hamas continues seeking new cryptocurrency networks.
• The U.S. Treasury is investigating a much larger amount – over $165 million in Hamas cryptocurrency holdings.
DOJ Strikes Hamas Where It Hurts: The Wallet
The Justice Department has successfully disrupted a sophisticated Hamas fundraising operation by seizing $201,400 in cryptocurrency. The funds were traced directly from Hamas fundraising addresses and involved both digital wallets and exchange accounts registered to individuals in Turkey and other locations.
Officials uncovered a complex money laundering scheme that moved over $1.5 million in virtual currency since October 2024. The operation utilized encrypted communication platforms where Hamas provided supporters with cryptocurrency addresses for donations, showing how terrorist organizations continue adapting to modern financial technologies.
America’s Top Lawmen Vow To Crush Terror Financing
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. made the administration’s position crystal clear in his statement about the operation. “Hamas is responsible for the deaths of many U.S. and Israeli nationals, and we will use every legal tool at our disposal to stop their campaign of terror and murder,” Martin declared.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Bujanda reinforced the importance of financial warfare in combating terrorism. “Countering terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority. By successfully disrupting access to these funds, we have weakened their ability to function,” Bujanda stated.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with support from the FBI’s specialized Counterterrorism and Cyber Divisions. Assets seized included cryptocurrency addresses valued at $89,900 and three accounts containing $111,500, all identified through meticulous tracking of digital transactions.
Hamas Can’t Hide: Digital Dollars Tracked Despite Deception
Despite Hamas publicly announcing in April 2023 that it would stop using cryptocurrency, intelligence shows the terrorist organization never actually abandoned these funding methods. The terrorist group continues exploring new cryptocurrency networks while using corrupt financial exchanges and brokers to move money undetected.
The DOJ’s seizure specifically targeted Tether’s USDT, a stablecoin linked to the U.S. dollar that offers relative stability compared to more volatile cryptocurrencies. This particular operation is just one piece of a much larger puzzle, as the U.S. Treasury is currently investigating over $165 million in Hamas cryptocurrency holdings.
Both U.S. and Israeli governments have conducted large-scale seizures of Hamas cryptocurrency, with Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) specializing in tracking such funding. The operation demonstrates the continued commitment of the Trump-initiated policies to dismantle terrorist financing networks through advanced technological means.
Hamas continues hoarding vast wealth while neglecting the Palestinian public, using funds exclusively for weapons acquisition and terrorist operations.
