US Seizes $200,000 in Cryptocurrency Linked to Hamas
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The U.S. Justice Department has confiscated approximately $201,400 in cryptocurrency intended for Hamas, disrupting a terror financing operation.
Investigators traced the funds to Hamas-controlled fundraising addresses, which have laundered over $1.5 million in virtual currency since October 2024.
The action was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Sue J. Bai head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque Field Office.
As claimed in court documents, a group chat claiming association with Hamas on an encrypted communications platform provided Hamas supporters, worldwide, with a changing set of at least 17 cryptocurrency addresses. Supporters were encouraged to donate money to those addresses.
Those funds were sent into an operational wallet and laundered through a series of virtual currency exchanges and transactions by leveraging suspected financiers and over-the-counter brokers. More than a million dollars were raised and laundered using the laundering system and the virtual currency accounts described in the affidavit.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the government's commitment to dismantling Hamas's financial network, while U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. vowed to track and seize any funds supporting the group.
“Countering terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority. By successfully disrupting access to these funds, we have weakened their ability to function,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bujanda, of the Albuquerque Field Office.
“This success demonstrates that financial warfare is a critical component to fight terrorism. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people and pursue justice by depriving terrorist organizations of the resources they need to continue their illicit activity.”
The FBI, leading the investigation, identified assets including crypto wallets worth $89,900 and three accounts holding $111,500, registered under Palestinian individuals in Turkey and other locations.
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