Justice Department disrupts Hamas fundraising, seizes over $560,000 in cryptocurrency

What happened

The Associated Press reports the U.S. Justice Department has seized over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations that were intended for Hamas, according to an announcement on September 2, 2026. The FBI also took control of Hamas-related website domains and communication platforms used for fundraising and recruitment, and gained information about thousands of individuals who had reached out to support the group financially.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated in a video released with the announcement that Hamas’s networks and cryptocurrency are vulnerable and that the U.S. government is committed to undermining their capacity to wage war. The operation targets the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, who reportedly began soliciting virtual currency donations through online channels like Telegram since early 2019. The affidavits filed with the FBI describe how Hamas officials had promoted the untraceability of cryptocurrency and provided instructions for anonymous donations.

A significant investigative development occurred in 2025, when FBI officials identified a network soliciting cryptocurrency for Hamas via Telegram, aided by a confidential source located in the U.S., who pointed law enforcement to fundraising appeals involving email addresses linked to Hamas. The FBI cyber division emphasized its ongoing role in seizing illicit funds and disrupting terrorist financing on digital platforms.

Known from the source

• The U.S. Justice Department and FBI seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas.
• The operation also involved taking control of website domains and communication platforms used for Hamas fundraising and recruitment.
• Thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas to donate funds were identified during the operation.
• Hamas’s Qassam Brigades began soliciting donations in virtual currency since around early 2019 via Telegram and other online methods.
• A confidential source in the United States helped law enforcement identify part of the fundraising network in 2025.

What remains unclear

While the report confirms the seizure of funds and disruption of fundraising platforms, there is no additional detail on operational impacts inside Gaza, nor direct mention of any relationship between this financial disruption and recent or ongoing hostilities. Hamas representatives were not immediately available for comment according to the source.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of the current operational impact of these seizures on Hamas’s military or recruitment capabilities. Confirmation of the extent to which the seized funds relate to ongoing hostilities or recent conflicts. Requests for comment or response from Hamas or related parties.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: AP Israel Hamas War. Open the source.