The US Justice Department (DOJ) gained more than $ 200,000 in cryptocurrency intended to benefit the militant group it said in a statement On March 27th.
Cryptocurrency with a total cost of $ 201,400 was monitored in fundraising addresses that are allegedly controlled by Hamas and used to launch more than $ 1.5 million in digital ownership since October 2024.
Laundering has occurred through a series of “virtual currency exchanges and transactions by seizing suspected financiers and over-the-counter brokers,” the DOJ said. The funds are currently held in a combination of at least 17 purses.
Affidavit to seize Hamas associated with cryptocurrency. Source: US DOJ
In January 2024, the US Treasury’s Foreign Assets Control office, along with the corresponding organizations in the United Kingdom and Australia, revealed penalty against networks and facilitators of crypto transactions linked to Hamas. Those penalties were built Penalties in the US ark From October 2023.
In January 2024, three families of Hamas attacks against Israel Binance and former CEO Changpeng Zhao are accusedallegedly the exchange provided “great help” to terrorists. In oral arguments, A lawyer representing Binance Claimed the exchange is “no special relationship (with) Hamas (…).”
Binance is facing an investigation from the US government for alleged shortcomings in anti-money laundering controls. The exchange lived in the DOJ for $ 4.3 billion In November 2023.
MUCH MUCH MORE REGULATION?
According to In a December 2024 report of the Congressional Research Service, Hamas is said to have demanded cryptocurrency donations since 2019, though the “scale and effectiveness” of these efforts is unclear.
Terrorist organizations that use crypto for fundraising will further draw the US attention, including some officials asking if the industry needs more administration or regulation to stop such behavior.
According to a report of 2023 chainalysis, terrorism financing Accounts For a very small amount of crypto use, with illegal groups attached to traditional use, based on FIAT methods to fund operations.
Magazine: The terrorism and the Israeli-Gaza War was armed to destroy Crypto
