Key Takeaways
- Al-Qassam Brigades instructed potential donors to steer clear of Binance for cryptocurrency donations
- Alternative platforms suggested included Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast and Redotpay
- Instructions specified using USDT on TRC-20 through an external TRON wallet
- Binance claims the advisory demonstrates the effectiveness of its compliance framework
- OKX stated the wallet in question was already identified by their monitoring systems
According to U.S. Department of Justice asset-forfeiture documents filed on September 9, 2026, the Al-Qassam Brigades—the armed faction of Hamas—instructed prospective contributors to bypass Binance when transmitting financial support to the organization.
Communications attributed to the Al-Qassam Brigades identified several alternative platforms: Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast and Redotpay. Contributors received instructions to transfer USDT stablecoin via the TRC-20 network to a separate TRON wallet address.
The court documents provide unusual insight into operational tactics employed by a designated terrorist organization attempting to circumvent financial surveillance. The communications explicitly warned contributors against including any identifying information or official names in transaction metadata, citing security risks.
The instructions did not entirely prohibit Binance usage. According to the letter, contributors could purchase cryptocurrency through Binance but were directed to route those assets through alternative applications before finalizing transfers to the designated address.
Crypto Platforms Respond to Allegations
Noah Perlman, Binance’s chief compliance officer, characterized the Hamas advisory as evidence supporting the platform’s security measures. “When terrorist organizations advise their networks to avoid Binance, it demonstrates our controls are functioning as intended,” he stated.
OKX representatives clarified that the wallet address cited in February 2025 correspondence had zero association with their exchange. According to the platform, their internal monitoring infrastructure had previously identified and flagged the address for suspected illicit connections prior to the public disclosure of court documents.
Kast representatives noted that all users undergo comprehensive identity verification and screening protocols before gaining platform access. The company disclosed it employs compliance technology from Elliptic, Sumsub and Sardine for sanctions screening and ongoing transaction surveillance.
Bybit representatives declined to provide comment. Redotpay did not respond to inquiries.
Inclusion in such communications does not necessarily indicate deficient compliance infrastructure or intentional facilitation of prohibited transactions by any named entity.
Context of U.S. Enforcement Actions
This revelation emerges amid intensified U.S. regulatory focus on cryptocurrency-related terrorist financing, particularly following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.
Previous reporting by The Wall Street Journal indicated that digital wallets associated with Hamas accumulated approximately $41 million between 2020 and 2023. U.S. Treasury Department investigations examined roughly $165 million in cryptocurrency-related transactions potentially connected to Hamas financing operations prior to the 2023 offensive.
The Treasury Department’s 2026 terrorist financing risk assessment acknowledged continued digital asset utilization by Hamas and ISIS. Nevertheless, the assessment emphasized that conventional financial infrastructure remains the predominant conduit for terrorist financial operations worldwide.
This case underscores persistent difficulties cryptocurrency exchanges encounter in blocking sanctioned entities from platform access, regardless of whether platforms are implicated as willing participants.
U.S. enforcement authorities maintain active surveillance and seizure operations targeting digital assets connected to entities appearing on sanctions lists.
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