The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on September 1, 2026 that it had seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas, the designated foreign terrorist organization. The seizure was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was described by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro as a “massive blow against foreign terrorism.”

The DOJ said the FBI disrupted a fundraising and recruitment scheme run by Hamas’s military wing, the Al‑Qassam Brigades. According to the agency, the group had been using encrypted group chats and a fundraising website to provide supporters with rotating cryptocurrency addresses. The FBI seized the funds from those addresses after obtaining court‑authorized warrants issued in March, June and October 2025.

In addition to the crypto, the DOJ said it seized servers and domain names that were used to host the Al‑Qassam Brigades’ main website, AlQassam.ps. The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office helped identify the domains that controlled the site. The DOJ stated that the seizure of the servers and domains allowed it to intercept money that would have been used by the Al‑Qassam Brigades’ military operations.

The DOJ also said it now has the names and identities of thousands of individuals who attempted to donate to Hamas. The agency said the operation “deprives Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023.” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the DOJ would continue to tighten the vise on Hamas’s capacity for terror.

Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 and is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The Al‑Qassam Brigades, its military wing, has been responsible for numerous rocket attacks and other violent actions against Israel. The group has used cryptocurrency for fundraising since at least early 2019, according to FBI affidavits filed in connection with the seizures.

The DOJ’s announcement follows a broader U.S. effort to disrupt terrorist financing. In 2025, the FBI and DOJ seized more than $1.5 million in crypto assets linked to Hamas, and the agency has continued to target the group’s online infrastructure. The DOJ’s statement emphasized that the seizure of crypto assets and online assets is a key part of its strategy to limit Hamas’s ability to fund and coordinate attacks.

The seizure was conducted under the authority of the Foreign Terrorist Asset Control Regulations, which allow the DOJ to freeze and seize assets belonging to designated terrorist organizations. The court‑issued warrants that authorized the seizure were part of a series of legal actions that began in 2025.

The DOJ’s action is expected to impact Hamas’s fundraising operations. By removing the crypto funds and shutting down the group’s online channels, the agency aims to reduce the group’s ability to recruit supporters and to finance attacks. The DOJ’s statement did not indicate whether any of the seized funds would be returned to donors or used for other purposes.

The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions in the Gaza Strip and a broader international debate over how to curb terrorist financing. The U.S. government has repeatedly warned that Hamas’s use of cryptocurrency undermines global financial security and that the group’s online recruitment efforts pose a threat to national and international security.

The DOJ’s seizure of more than $560,000 in crypto donations to Hamas is the latest in a series of enforcement actions aimed at disrupting the organization’s financial networks. The agency has not yet announced any plans to release the seized assets or to pursue civil or criminal charges against individual donors.

The DOJ’s statement was issued on September 1, 2026, and the agency said it would continue to monitor and target any remaining online infrastructure used by Hamas. The FBI’s ongoing investigations are expected to focus on additional cryptocurrency addresses and domain names linked to the organization.

The seizure is part of a broader U.S. strategy to limit the financial resources available to terrorist organizations. The DOJ’s action demonstrates the agency’s willingness to use court‑authorized seizures and online asset takedowns to disrupt the operational capabilities of groups like Hamas.

The DOJ’s announcement is the most recent public disclosure of a large-scale seizure of cryptocurrency assets linked to a foreign terrorist organization. The agency has not yet provided details on the specific blockchain addresses involved or on the identities of the individuals who donated the funds.

The DOJ’s action underscores the importance of monitoring cryptocurrency transactions for potential links to terrorism financing. The agency’s continued focus on online infrastructure and crypto assets reflects a broader trend in law‑enforcement efforts to adapt to the evolving methods used by terrorist groups.

The DOJ’s seizure of over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations to Hamas is a significant enforcement action that highlights the challenges of preventing the use of digital assets for illicit purposes. The agency’s continued efforts to disrupt Hamas’s online and financial networks are expected to shape the future of counter‑terrorism enforcement in the digital age.

The DOJ’s statement did not provide a timeline for the release of the seized assets or for any potential legal proceedings against donors. The agency’s focus remains on preventing further use of the assets for terrorist activities.

The DOJ’s seizure of more than $560,000 in crypto donations to Hamas is a reminder that digital assets can be used for both legitimate and illicit purposes. The agency’s actions demonstrate the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to protect national security.

The DOJ’s announcement is the latest in a series of efforts to disrupt Hamas’s financial networks and online infrastructure. The agency’s focus on cryptocurrency and online assets reflects a broader trend in counter‑terrorism enforcement.

The DOJ’s seizure of crypto assets linked to Hamas is part of a broader strategy to limit the organization’s ability to fund and coordinate attacks. The agency’s continued efforts to disrupt online infrastructure and cryptocurrency channels are expected to shape the future of counter‑terrorism enforcement.

The DOJ’s action is a significant development in the ongoing effort to curb terrorist financing. The agency’s focus on cryptocurrency and online infrastructure reflects the evolving nature of terrorist financing in the digital age.

The DOJ’s seizure of more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations to Hamas is the latest public disclosure of a large-scale enforcement action against a foreign terrorist organization. The agency’s continued focus on disrupting online infrastructure and cryptocurrency channels is expected to shape the future of counter‑terrorism enforcement.

The DOJ’s announcement is the most recent public disclosure of a large-scale seizure of cryptocurrency assets linked to a foreign terrorist organization. The agency’s continued focus on disrupting online infrastructure and cryptocurrency channels is expected to shape the future of counter‑terrorism enforcement.

The DOJ’s seizure of crypto assets linked to Hamas is a significant enforcement action that highlights the challenges of preventing the use of digital assets for illicit purposes. The agency’s continued efforts to disrupt online infrastructure and cryptocurrency channels are expected to shape the future of counter‑terrorism enforcement.

The DOJ’s action underscores the importance of monitoring cryptocurrency transactions for potential links to terrorism financing. The agency’s continued focus on online infrastructure and crypto assets reflects a broader trend in law‑enforcement efforts to adapt to the evolving methods used by terrorist groups.

The DOJ’s seizure of over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations to Hamas is a reminder that digital assets can be used for both legitimate and illicit purposes. The agency’s actions demonstrate the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to protect national security.