US Seizes $560k in Crypto Donations Meant for Hamas
The US Department of Justice has announced a significant disruption to Hamas's financing operations. The agency has seized over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for the militant group.
The funds were seized from various sources, including online fundraising platforms and Telegram channels used by Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades.
FBI officials identified a financing network soliciting donations to the Qassam Brigades via virtual currency last year. A confidential source in the US alerted law enforcement to a Telegram post asking for contributions to an email address associated with Hamas.
According to FBI affidavits, Hamas began testing virtual currency fundraising in early 2019 through its military wing and solicited donations on its Telegram channel and direct online fundraising.