Hamas’ military wing advises donors to use Bybit, OKX over Binance

Hamas military wing Al Qassam Brigades advised potential donors to avoid using Binance for crypto transfers and instead consider other platforms, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice.

The guidance appeared in an asset seizure warrant and offered a rare look at how the sanctioned group assessed crypto platforms based on the risk that transfers could be detected or blocked.

The documents said Al Qassam recommended alternatives including Bybit, OKX, Kast and RedotPay while suggesting Binance be used only to purchase digital assets before transfers were completed elsewhere.

The group also referenced the use of stablecoins and blockchain based transfer networks for donations.

The inclusion of specific platforms does not by itself indicate weaknesses in their compliance systems. Crypto exchanges and stablecoin networks are widely used for legitimate activity, and several companies named in the documents said their controls are designed to identify and block illicit transactions.

Binance Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman said the recommendation to avoid Binance showed the exchange’s controls were working, adding that the company invests heavily in sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and cooperation with law enforcement.

OKX said the wallet address referenced in the documents had already been identified by its internal systems as linked to illicit activity and that attempted transfers from its customers would have been blocked.

Kast said all customers undergo identity verification and screening and that its compliance systems include sanctions checks, customer due diligence and transaction monitoring.

Bybit declined to comment, while RedotPay did not respond to requests for comment.

The documents come as US authorities continue examining the use of digital assets by sanctioned groups. The Treasury Department said in its 2026 terrorist financing risk assessment that groups including Hamas and ISIS continue to use crypto for some donations and transfers, while traditional financial services remain their preferred means of moving money.

US authorities have increased scrutiny of Hamas related financial activity since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.