US Justice Department Seizes $560K in Cryptocurrency Meant for Hamas

By Anika Shah - Technology Updated September 1, 2026

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas, alongside a series of online infrastructure takedowns aimed at disrupting the militant group’s fundraising networks, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Law enforcement officials announced the operation on Tuesday, detailing actions taken against digital wallets, website domains, and recruitment platforms controlled by the Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the designated foreign terrorist organization.

Cryptocurrency Takedowns and Seizure Warrants

Federal investigators targeted digital asset networks used to solicit funds outside the formal financial system. According to DOJ announcements and unsealed cryptocurrency seizure warrants, authorities identified and confiscated approximately $560,000 across multiple enforcement actions executed on March 25, 2025, June 25, 2025, and October 10, 2025. FBI affidavits state that Hamas began testing virtual currency fundraising around early 2019, utilizing Telegram channels and direct online portals. Donors were directed to websites offering rotating cryptocurrency addresses and instructions for anonymous giving under the belief that the transactions would remain untraceable. A major investigative breakthrough occurred when a confidential source in the United States alerted law enforcement to a Telegram post soliciting contributions to a Hamas-associated email address, according to FBI statements. The subsequent investigation enabled cyber division agents to trace, identify, and intercept the illicit funds. “The FBI seized online infrastructure and $560,000 in cryptocurrency, capturing donations intended for the organization,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division, as reported by the Department of Justice.

Infrastructure Seizures and Domain Takeovers

Beyond seizing digital assets, federal authorities disabled the primary web domains and servers utilized by the Al Qassam Brigades. According to the Justice Department, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office worked with human sources to capture domains including AlQassam.ps. Controlling these servers allowed law enforcement to intercept incoming cryptocurrency donations and gather digital intelligence regarding individuals attempting to fund the organization. Court documents indicate that the operation also yielded data on thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online to offer financial support via cryptocurrency and traditional payment methods. Officials stated this information will directly feed into ongoing counterterrorism investigations. “These seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg in the official DOJ release.

Official Enforcement Response

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP — Photo: apnews.com

Federal prosecutors and law enforcement leaders emphasized that digital assets do not offer a secure avenue for financing militant operations. Jeanine Ferris Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, issued a direct warning to the group during the announcement. “My message to Hamas is clear: your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated,” Pirro stated in a video release covered by the Associated Press. The multi-agency investigation involved coordination between the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, and New York Field Office. Prosecution of the case is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery. Law enforcement agencies confirmed that efforts to monitor and dismantle digital financing pipelines for designated terrorist organizations remain ongoing.

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About the author: Anika Shah - Technology

MSc in Computer Science, senior reporter. Anika focuses on AI ethics, cybersecurity, and emerging hardware—frequently moderating panels at CES and Web Summit. “Anika Shah decodes tech breakthroughs and startup disruption shaping tomorrow’s digital landscape.”