The U.S. Justice Department announced on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, that the FBI seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas. The operation also involved taking control of website domains and communication platforms that officials stated were used by the group for recruitment and fundraising.
According to FBI affidavits, Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, began testing virtual currency fundraising around early 2019. The group solicited donations through its Telegram channel and direct online platforms, providing instructions to donors on how to make anonymous contributions.
The investigation progressed last year when FBI officials identified a financing network soliciting virtual currency for the Qassam Brigades. Law enforcement was alerted by a confidential source in the United States to a Telegram post directing contributors to an email address associated with Hamas.
Intercepting these funds targets the financial infrastructure of Hamas's military wing. The seizure also provided the government with data on thousands of individuals who contacted the group with a goal of donating money.
This action highlights the capability of federal law enforcement to track and seize assets within the cryptocurrency market. The use of a U.S.-based confidential source indicates that domestic monitoring of social media and messaging apps remains a tool for federal agencies in identifying financial flows. The seizure of website domains means that users attempting to access these specific recruitment or fundraising pages will find them offline.
The Justice Department's acquisition of information regarding thousands of potential donors could lead to further investigations. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the government will continue to target these networks to disrupt financing. Hamas officials could not be reached for comment following the announcement.