How FBI turned Hamas’ crypto fundraising pipeline into a law-enforcement trap

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized Hamas-linked fundraising infrastructure and used it to intercept cryptocurrency donations intended for the group.Earlier this week, the Justice Department said the operation followed earlier court-authorized seizures that traced and recovered more than $560,000 in digital assets tied to Hamas fundraising.Those seizures came through warrants issued in March, June and October 2025 after investigators followed rotating donation addresses distributed through encrypted chats and fundraising websites.The June warrant showed how that process worked. Tether was ordered to burn targeted USDT and reissue an equivalent amount to a US law-enforcement-controlled address, while Binance was directed to transfer specified account balances into FBI-controlled wallets.That approach allowed investigators to recover crypto after identifying where it had moved.Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office said:“Reducing the capabilities of foreign terrorist organization's ability to receive donations and creating distrust in communications to their donors was the primary focus of this latest operation. This continued suc...