US Seizes $560K in Crypto, Disrupts Hamas Fundraising

The US Justice Department has made a significant dent in Hamas's fundraising operations by seizing over $560,000 in cryptocurrency and taking control of several websites used to collect donations. The operation targeted the militant group's Al-Qassam Brigades military wing, which began using virtual currency for fundraising around early 2019.

FBI affidavits revealed that Hamas solicited donations via Telegram and direct online appeals, boasting that cryptocurrency transactions would be untraceable. However, investigators tracked wallet addresses using human intelligence sources and intercepted incoming donations after taking control of the affected domains.

The operation spanned 18 months, combining financial seizures with digital infrastructure takeovers. Authorities obtained the names and identities of thousands of individuals who attempted to send money to Hamas, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US government.