The US Justice Department (DOJ) seized over $200,000 in cryptocurrency intended for the militant group Hamas. The total value of the cryptocurrency was $201,400, traced back to fundraising addresses allegedly controlled by Hamas and used to launder more than $1.5 million in digital assets since October 2024. This laundering involved virtual currency exchanges and transactions facilitated by suspected financiers and over-the-counter brokers. The funds are currently stored in at least 17 wallets. In January 2024, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, alongside counterparts in the UK and Australia, imposed sanctions on networks facilitating crypto transactions linked to Hamas. Reports suggest that Hamas has attempted to use cryptocurrency donations since at least 2019, although the effectiveness of these efforts remains questionable. The increasing use of cryptocurrency for fundraising by terrorist groups has caught the attention of US officials, prompting discussions on whether more regulation is necessary.

Source 🔗