Hamas Instructed Supporters to Skip Binance in Favor of Bybit, OKX for Crypto Donations

Key Highlights

• Al-Qassam Brigades directed supporters not to use Binance for sending cryptocurrency donations
• Alternative platforms including Bybit, OKX, Trust Wallet, Kast and Redotpay were suggested instead
• Instructions specified USDT transfers on TRC-20 network through external TRON wallets
• Binance claims the directive demonstrates effectiveness of its security measures
• OKX confirmed its systems had previously identified the wallet address as suspicious

The military division of Hamas known as the Al-Qassam Brigades explicitly instructed prospective contributors to steer clear of Binance for transferring financial support. This directive emerged in a Department of Justice asset seizure document filed on September 9, 2026.

According to correspondence attributed to the Al-Qassam Brigades, the organization endorsed Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast and Redotpay as suitable options. Contributors received instructions to send USDT stablecoin via the TRC-20 protocol to an independent TRON wallet address.

This court document provides unusual insight into the tactics employed by a designated terrorist organization attempting to circumvent financial surveillance. The communication specifically warned contributors against including any identifying organizational references in transaction records, citing operational security.

The guidance didn’t entirely prohibit Binance usage. According to the instructions, supporters could purchase cryptocurrency through Binance but were advised to route those assets through a separate application before final delivery.

Cryptocurrency Platforms Respond to Allegations

Noah Perlman, serving as Binance’s chief compliance officer, characterized the Hamas warning as proof of successful security protocols. “The fact that terrorist organizations advise against using Binance demonstrates our control mechanisms are functioning effectively,” he stated.

OKX verified that the wallet identifier mentioned in the February 2025 message had zero association with their exchange operations. The platform stated its monitoring infrastructure had previously marked the address as connected to criminal activity well before the court filing became publicly available.

Kast reported that every user undergoes comprehensive identity authentication and screening procedures before gaining platform access. The firm indicated it deploys compliance technology from Elliptic, Sumsub and Sardine for sanctions verification and transaction surveillance.

Bybit chose not to provide comment. Redotpay failed to respond to inquiry requests.

It should be emphasized that mere mention of a platform in such correspondence doesn’t indicate compromised compliance infrastructure or intentional facilitation of banned transactions.

United States Regulatory Context

This revelation emerges amid intensified U.S. government initiatives targeting cryptocurrency-facilitated terrorism funding, especially after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

The Wall Street Journal had earlier disclosed that cryptocurrency addresses associated with Hamas accumulated approximately $41 million from 2020 through 2023. Treasury Department investigators also examined $165 million in digital currency transactions potentially connected to Hamas funding operations preceding the 2023 offensive.

Treasury’s 2026 terrorism financing threat evaluation acknowledged ongoing digital asset utilization by Hamas and ISIS. Nevertheless, it emphasized that conventional banking channels continue serving as the predominant conduit for terrorist financial operations worldwide.

This situation underscores the persistent difficulties cryptocurrency exchanges encounter when attempting to block sanctioned entities from accessing their services, even when platforms aren’t implicated as willing participants.

Regulatory authorities maintain continuous surveillance and confiscation efforts targeting digital currencies linked to entities appearing on United States sanctions registries.