Key Takeaways
- Al-Qassam Brigades specifically instructed supporters not to use Binance for cryptocurrency donations
- Recommended platforms included Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast, and Redotpay
- Instructions specified USDT transfers via TRC-20 network through external TRON wallets
- Binance officials claim the avoidance guidance demonstrates effective compliance measures
- OKX confirmed the wallet address mentioned had been previously identified by internal monitoring systems
According to a U.S. Department of Justice asset-forfeiture document filed on September 9, 2026, the Al-Qassam Brigadesāthe armed faction of Hamasādirected prospective contributors to steer clear of Binance when transferring cryptocurrency donations.
The correspondence, credited to the Al-Qassam Brigades, explicitly recommended Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast, and Redotpay as suitable options. Contributors received instructions to send Tether’s USDT stablecoin via the TRC-20 network into an external TRON-based wallet address.
These court documents provide an unusual window into the methods a sanctioned militant organization employed to circumvent financial surveillance. The guidance emphasized that contributors should omit any official organizational references in transaction notes for security purposes.
The instructions didn’t entirely exclude Binance from the process. The letter indicated that while Binance could serve as a platform for initial cryptocurrency purchases, contributors should route funds through alternative applications before executing the final transfer.
Crypto Platforms Respond to Allegations
Noah Perlman, Binance’s chief compliance officer, characterized the militant group’s warning as proof of successful security protocols. “The fact that terrorist organizations are advising people to stay away from Binance demonstrates that our compliance mechanisms are effective,” he stated.
OKX verified that the wallet address cited in the February 2025 correspondence had no association with its exchange. The platform stated that its monitoring infrastructure had previously identified the address as connected to unlawful operations well before the court filing surfaced publicly.
Kast representatives stated that all users undergo comprehensive identity verification and screening procedures prior to platform access. The firm reported utilizing compliance technology from Elliptic, Sumsub, and Sardine for sanctions checks and transaction surveillance.
Bybit opted not to provide commentary. Redotpay failed to respond to inquiries.
Being mentioned in such documentation does not inherently indicate that a platform operates with inadequate compliance frameworks or deliberately facilitated any restricted transactions.
US Law Enforcement Context
This revelation emerges amid intensified U.S. government initiatives targeting cryptocurrency-facilitated terrorist funding, especially after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.
The Wall Street Journal had previously documented that digital wallets associated with Hamas accumulated approximately $41 million between 2020 and 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department separately examined $165 million in cryptocurrency-related transactions potentially connected to Hamas funding operations prior to the 2023 offensive.
The Treasury’s 2026 terrorist-financing threat evaluation verified that both Hamas and ISIS maintain ongoing usage of digital currencies. Nevertheless, the assessment observed that conventional banking systems continue to represent the primary conduit for terrorist financial activities worldwide.
This situation underscores the persistent difficulties cryptocurrency exchanges encounter in blocking sanctioned entities from exploiting their services, even when platforms are not identified as willing participants.
Law enforcement bodies maintain continuous oversight and seizure operations targeting digital assets linked to entities appearing on U.S. sanctions registries.
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