Hamas Military Wing Told Donors to Avoid Binance for Crypto Transfers, DOJ Filing Shows
What the DOJ documents reveal
Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice show that the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, advised potential donors not to use Binance to transfer funds. Instead, the group recommended using Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast, and Redotpay to send money to an external wallet on the TRON blockchain.
The letter appears in full within a DOJ asset-seizure warrant dated September 9.
What the letter says
The Al-Qassam Brigades letter stated: "It is preferable not to use the 'BINANCE' platform to transfer support; and not to enter any data indicating our official name so that your wallet is not blocked and for your safety as well. You can transfer through the application: trust wallet, RedotPay, OKX, Kast, BYBIT…"
The group also said Binance "can be used to purchase currencies only, then use another application to complete the transfer process." The letter recommended using Tether's USDT stablecoin and the TRC-20 network, which is used to create and manage tokens on the Tron blockchain.
What this tells us about crypto and sanctioned groups
The guidance offers a rare look at how a sanctioned militant group instructed donors to move cryptocurrency while trying to protect their identities. The group recommended using a stablecoin (a type of cryptocurrency designed to hold a steady value) on the TRON network to receive donations.
However, the inclusion of these platforms in the letter does not necessarily mean they have weak know-your-customer or anti-money laundering controls. Large crypto platforms and major stablecoins are used for many purposes beyond illicit activity.
What is confirmed and what remains unclear
Confirmed: The Al-Qassam Brigades letter exists in DOJ documents and recommends avoiding Binance in favor of other platforms. The U.S. Treasury's 2026 terrorist-financing risk assessment said that groups including Hamas and ISIS have continued using digital assets for donations and transfers.
Unclear: The scale and effectiveness of Hamas's cryptocurrency donation efforts remain uncertain, according to reports.
Why it matters
The U.S. has refocused its counterterrorist financing efforts on Hamas, particularly after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. While the Treasury noted that traditional financial products remain the preferred method for terrorist money transfers, digital assets have become one of several channels used by sanctioned groups to move funds across borders.