Why Hamas’ Military Wing Didn’t Recommend Binance: Five Platforms Listed
A filing published by the US Department of Justice revealed that the Al-Qassam Brigades recommended platforms such as Bybit, OKX, Kast, and RedotPay to donors instead of Binance.
The letter stated that Binance should only be used to purchase cryptocurrency, while preferring that the donation transfer be completed through a different application. The Al-Qassam Brigades also listed the names Bybit, OKX, Kast, RedotPay, and Trust Wallet.
Al-Qassam Brigades Recommended USDT and the TRC-20 Network
The document also recommended Tether‘s USDT and the TRC-20 network used on the Tron blockchain for donations. The letter advised choosing different platforms to prevent transfers from being detected or blocked and cautioned against using the group’s official name in recipient information.
These statements indicate that the Al-Qassam Brigades evaluate crypto platforms not just based on ease of use, but also on the likelihood of transactions being monitored and blocked. However, the mention of a platform’s name in the letter does not, on its own, indicate that the platform’s identity verification and anti-money laundering controls are weak.
OKX clarified that the wallet address mentioned in the communication dated February 10, 2025, is not associated with the company. The exchange stated that it had identified the address through its internal controls as being linked to illegal activities and that any attempts by customers to transfer to this address would be blocked.
Binance’s Chief Compliance Officer, Noah Perlman, stated that the document shows the company’s controls are working. Perlman noted that Binance conducts sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and investigations, asserting that the platform is not a safe haven for illicit actors.
Kast also explained that customers undergo identity verification and screenings before accessing services. The company reported having more than 50 employees in its compliance team and utilizes various risk management providers for sanctions screening and transaction monitoring. While Bybit did not make a statement, it was reported that RedotPay did not respond to inquiries.
According to the US Treasury Department’s 2026 terrorist financing assessment, groups like Hamas and ISIS continue to use digital assets for donations and money transfers. However, the report states that terrorist organizations still prefer traditional financial products and services for moving money.