The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday it seized more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency from wallets and exchange accounts linked to Hamas.
According to a DOJ press release, about $201,400 in USDT — a stablecoin issued by Tether — was taken from wallets “intended to benefit” Hamas. The funds were traced back to cryptocurrency addresses promoted in encrypted group chats by people claiming to represent the group.
The FBI said over $1.5 million in crypto donations had moved through these wallets since October 2024. Supporters were asked to send money to at least 17 wallet addresses. That money was then routed through exchanges and brokers to hide its origin.
Among the seized assets were cryptocurrency addresses worth approximately $89,900 and three additional accounts holding around $111,500 in cryptocurrency. These accounts were registered under the names of Palestinian individuals residing in Turkey and other locations, according to the DOJ.
“Hamas is responsible for the deaths of many U.S. and Israeli nationals, and we will use every legal tool at our disposal to stop their campaign of terror and murder,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “These seizures are but one illustration of the determination of this office and the Department of Justice to shut off the flow of funds to this group, and to locate every cent intended to support their activities, no matter what form it takes.”
The recent FBI operation is part of a larger effort to stop Hamas from using cryptocurrency to move money. According to the U.S. Treasury, Hamas, labeled a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union, has used crypto to raise and move money since at least 2020 to evade financial monitoring.
“Disrupting funding mechanisms and seizing cryptocurrency from Hamas is one of the FBI’s many tools that we use in the fight against terrorism,” FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director David Scott said in a post on X. “The FBI will work with our partners to dismantle this terrorist group and protect the American people from their violent and horrific acts.”
Justice Department Disrupts Hamas Terrorist Financing Scheme Through Seizure of Cryptocurrency https://t.co/uRZqgBdvo9 @FBIAlbuquerque pic.twitter.com/E7Vp1dpWY5
— FBI (@FBI) March 27, 2025
The U.S. Treasury has previously investigated $165 million in crypto tied to Hamas, including funds sent before the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, including 40 Americans.
