The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seized more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency, aiming to benefit it from a radical organization. statement March 27.
Since October 2024, the allegedly controlled fundraising address, which is said to be a fundraising address controlled by Hamas, is said to be a $1.5 million digital asset since October 2024.
The Justice Department said money laundering was done through a series of virtual currency transactions and transactions that utilize suspicious financiers and over-the-counter brokers. Currently, these funds are consolidated into at least 17 wallets.
Affidavit to capture the cryptocurrency connected to Hamas. source: U.S. Department of Justice
In January 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Foreign Assets Control Office and corresponding organizations in the UK and Australia, Announced sanctions Networks and facilitators against crypto transactions related to Hamas. These sanctions are established US Treasury Sanctions Starting from October 2023.
Hamas attacks the families of three victims in Israel in January 2024 Sued Binance and its former CEO Changpeng ZhaoThe exchange is accused of providing “substantial assistance” to terrorists. In oral debate, Lawyer representing Binance Claiming that the exchange “has no special relationship with Hamas (…).
Binance’s so-called shortcomings in its anti-money laundering controls face scrutiny from the U.S. government. exchange Settling with the Justice Department $4.3 billion November 2023.
Need more regulations?
according to In a December 2024 report by the Congressional Research Services Agency, Hamas allegedly began seeking cryptocurrency donations since at least 2019, although the “scale and effectiveness” of these efforts is unclear.
Terrorist groups that use cryptocurrencies to raise funds have gained increasing attention from the United States, with some officials questioning whether the industry needs more oversight or regulation to stop such behavior.
Terrorism Financing, according to 2023 Chain Analysis Report account For very small amounts of cryptocurrencies, illegal groups insist on using traditional Fiat-based approaches to fund operations.
Magazine: Terrorism and Israel’s Gaza War have been destroyed by weapons cryptocurrency
