US Department of Justice charges Catherine Beth Washburn with supporting Palestine Islamic Jihad through cryptocurrency
The arrest marks the latest in a string of federal enforcement actions targeting crypto-based terror financing networks linked to designated foreign terrorist organizations.
The US Department of Justice arrested Catherine Beth Washburn on charges of attempting to send currency to support the Palestine Islamic Jihad, a group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US government.
The case lands at a moment when federal authorities have been systematically tightening their grip on crypto-facilitated terror financing, with the DOJ and Treasury pursuing forfeiture actions targeting millions in digital assets linked to fundraising networks for both PIJ and Hamas between 2025 and 2026.
What we know about the charges
Washburn faces charges related to attempting to transfer digital assets to PIJ. The specific tokens, platforms, wallet addresses, and transaction amounts involved have not been publicly identified.
No detailed complaint or indictment text has emerged in public records as of the arrest date. What is clear is the core allegation: Washburn allegedly tried to move crypto to a group the US government considers a terrorist organization.
Under US law, providing material support to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization carries severe penalties, regardless of the amount transferred. Attempting to send any resources, even small sums, can trigger prosecution.
A pattern of escalating enforcement
Between 2025 and 2026, the DOJ has been involved in forfeiting millions in digital currency linked to fundraising networks supporting Hamas and PIJ. These actions have targeted not just individual senders but the infrastructure itself: the exchanges, the intermediaries, and the wallet clusters that facilitate the flow of funds.
The Treasury Department has worked in parallel, sanctioning entities and individuals connected to these networks. Major cryptocurrency exchanges, such as Binance, have faced scrutiny and sanctions compliance actions for allegedly failing to prevent transactions involving designated terror organizations.
Firms like Chainalysis and TRM Labs have built entire businesses around helping law enforcement trace blockchain transactions, and their tools have become standard equipment in terror financing investigations.