Print Page - Hamas Military Wing Crowdfunding Bitcoin

https://www.forbes.com/sites/yayafanusie/2019/02/04/hamas-military-wing-crowdfunding-bitcoin/#230531d74d7f

Jihadists are at it again, trying to raise money through Bitcoin. And this time, their efforts may be getting some traction.

Last week, the military wing of Hamas, known as the al-Qassam Brigades, called on supporters to send Bitcoin to the group. The U.S. designated Hamas as a terrorist group in 1997 and has shut down charities for funding the organization. Since 2007, the jihadist organization has governed the Gaza Strip. It has been under financial strain in recent years, however, largely due to sanctions applied to the group by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, but also because of diminishing support from Iran, neighboring Egypt closing off smuggling tunnels, and economic pressure from the U.S., Europe, Israel, and some Arab countries.

Soon after announcing its intention to crowdfund through Bitcoin, the al-Qassam Brigades posted infographics about Bitcoin on social media and provided a Bitcoin address to which donors could send funds. Within a day, the Hamas digital wallet received roughly $900, although it can not be verified if all funds came from external parties. Most donations were less than $100, although a few were larger. Then, days later, the group posted an additional Bitcoin address.
In less than a week, its wallets received over $2,500 worth of Bitcoin.

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

That's bad and that's an actual risk that the enforcement agencies are talking since the inception of bitcoin. We can't ignore the fact that bitcoin comes with the increased risk of fraud, scam and terrorism funding which actually damages its reputation. I hope the account holders that are funding against humanity gets caught soon for the betterment of crypto ecosystem. This is one kind of adoption that we never wanted in this system.

On the other hand, if they wouldn't have used Bitcoin, we wouldn't even know these numbers.
Just imagine that they probably use for this same purpose all they can: fiat money of various flavors, gold and whatever holds value.
I think that with Bitcoin the reality (however bad) can be revealed easier. It's a step forward.

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

https://www.forbes.com/sites/yayafanusie/2019/02/04/hamas-military-wing-crowdfunding-bitcoin/#230531d74d7f

Soon after announcing its intention to crowdfund through Bitcoin, the al-Qassam Brigades posted infographics about Bitcoin on social media and provided a Bitcoin address to which donors could send funds. Within a day, the Hamas digital wallet received roughly $900, although it can not be verified if all funds came from external parties. Most donations were less than $100, although a few were larger. Then, days later, the group posted an additional Bitcoin address.
In less than a week, its wallets received over $2,500 worth of Bitcoin.

For now, we can take comfort in the fact that they only raised chump change. Police agencies are worried about terrorists moving millions of dollars, not a hundred bucks here and there.

Fearmongering about this kind of stuff has always been with us. Child pornographers, jihadists, drug traffickers, whatever. There's nothing we can do about it. Criminals use money, and Bitcoin is money, so.......

Quote from: Febo on February 05, 2019, 11:01:17 AM

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

In less than a week, its wallets received over $2,500 worth of Bitcoin.

If they plan to do something significant with it they will have to hold to at least 2022. You cant do a revolution pocket less.

Raising that kind of money in just one week is very alarming, and if there is someone who really support this kind of action should be accountable for the future revolution. This is a preparation for a big revolution for sure, they are trying to collect money now to fund their plan. This is why some government are against cryptocurrency, because it can really use for terrorism, it can hurt the market again for sure.

Quote from: creeps on February 05, 2019, 11:56:48 AM

Raising that kind of money in just one week is very alarming, and if there is someone who really support this kind of action should be accountable for the future revolution.

$2500 is an alarming amount? The only alarming thing about this is that it shows how little demand there is to finance these groups with Bitcoin.

It wouldn't even surprise me if hamas itself went first to "donate" in order to make it look like they are collecting funds from external parties. These groups thrive on propaganda and want to make themselves look as big as possible in the media. It's just one big muppet show.

News outlets love these developments, because it allows them to cover a subject that for once isn't focused around the price going up or down.

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

Jihadists are at it again, trying to raise money through Bitcoin. And this time, their efforts may be getting some traction.

The real surprise is not that they use cryptocurrencies because there were sanctions going on this organization. The surprise is that they use Bitcoin rather than a privacy coin like Monero. This makes donors much easier to identify through the blockchain. This also shows some inexperience in dealing with cryptocurrencies from the Hamas and the donors.

And this might again, cause an outrage over anti-bitcoiners thinking that bitcoin is designed to support terrorists instead of doing something good for the people. Good thing though that they aren't receiving that much support in bitcoin, though we don't know how much are they receiving in fiat deposits since the trail over that medium is somewhat tricky for people to follow. Anyway, this just goes to show that any form of money and currency is subject to evil and nefarious use, so this shouldn't be surprising in any way.

Money can in any form be used for good or bad things, but it is interesting that media like to link BTC mostly with such news. Hamas can be a threat only for Israel, so this is a so-called local terrorist organization which can be destroyed at any time, but it serves for its purpose that the world may be in fear of terrorism. In this way governments can bring laws that encourage them to hit more and more in human freedoms, and people agree to it in fear of their lives.

Quote from: davis196 on February 05, 2019, 12:50:51 PM

This will fuel the "bitcoin is used by terrorists" FUD shit.I think that their halala(if that was the name) system is more anoymous and harder to track than bitcoin transactions and they can't use btc to buy stuff.
What's going on in the middle east again?Is Hamas going to attack Izrael?

If you really meant on halala (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halala), this is just Saudi Riyal currency (one hundredth of Riyal), but I did not know that this currency is more anonymous then BTC transaction?

Even if Hamas attack Israel, they will do that like always with missiles - and then Israel will show all its military strength and send them in stone age like always.

Quote

After Hamas's military wing published a bitcoin address on Telegram on Thursday identified by Whitestream as the wallet address of Coinbase, the same Telegram channel published a second bitcoin address for collecting donations on Saturday, this time a digital wallet apparently unrelated to Coinbase. Levy explained to "Globes" today that according to a check by Whitestream, within two days of the publication of the first bitcoin address, two relatively small bitcoin donations addresses were published amounting to only $2,500.

Whitestream discovered that one of the bitcoin donations transferred to Hamas's Coinbase wallet was sent on Thursday from a "Buy Cash" bitcoin trader in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. Other bitcoin donations were sent to the Palestinian organization from wallets connected to Chinese cryptocurrencies exchange Binance and Russian cryptocurrencies exchange Vilkov, and from a wallet of another Coinbase account. Whitestream's check also revealed that bitcoin donations were sent late last week from Hamas's coinbase wallet to two bitcoin wallets: one belonging to CoinPayments, a company registered in the Cayman Islands, and one belonging to Binance.

The second Hamas bitcoin address has so far received donations from wallets of US trading platforms Bittrex and Coinbase, from Binance and Vilkov wallets, and from the coinMixer.io mixing service. Mixing technology mixes different addresses of digital currencies, thereby making it difficult to identify their users. Levy told "Globes" that the Hamas Coinbase wallet may have been blocked, and another wallet opened for collecting donations. The Whitestream team will continue monitoring incoming and outgoing transactions on Hamas's bitcoin addresses in the near future.

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-hamas-raises-bitcoin-donations-via-us-crypto-exchange-1001271661

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

Jihadists are at it again, trying to raise money through Bitcoin. And this time, their efforts may be getting some traction.

So how are they going to cash out the coins, with the help of government structure. I heard this news a long back and I am not sure the same news is being reshuffled once again as they have no news to tell. Either way even if they source funds they need to cash out and I am not sure how they are going to do that without the help of any government as every transactions is recorded and nothing can be done about it.

Quote from: Saint-loup on February 05, 2019, 02:54:02 PM

Quote

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-hamas-raises-bitcoin-donations-via-us-crypto-exchange-1001271661

"Hamas's Coinbase wallet" ;D

I guess these guys don't know how Coinbase operates. That account is getting shut down, if it hasn't been already. Sounds like they'll probably get their Binance account shut down too. Publicly raising funds for a designated terrorist organization is one thing.....but having those funds sent directly to exchanges is just stupid.

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

Like there wasn't any terrorism or drug deals or scams before the Bitcoin existence. Suddenly everything started just 10 years ago :)
The news will be used for FUD for sure, but I don't think it will lead to something more serious.

Edit: just a quick example = https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2018/11/19/509636.htm
They are talking about 200B Euro's or just 80 000 000 bigger amount than OP's stated wallet.

Quote from: Saint-loup on February 05, 2019, 03:12:41 PM

Old wallet : https://www.blockchain.com/btc/address/3PajPWymUexhewHPczmLQ8CMYatKAGNj3y

Current wallet : https://www.blockchain.com/btc/address/17QAWGVpFV4gZ25NQug46e5mBho4uDP6MD

Interesting. So, between both wallets, they've received around 1.01 btc, doesn't sound like a lot, then again, I don't know how much a terrorist groups needs to cover their "needs"...Still, i'm surprised they've received that much.

Quote from: eaLiTy on February 05, 2019, 05:48:06 PM

So how are they going to cash out the coins

Maybe they don't need to covert to fiat, I mean, you can buy weapons and illicit stuff with btc on the black market so there's no need to cash out.

Quote from: peter0425 on February 05, 2019, 12:12:18 PM

Well, this is bad news for crypto

Nah, it really isn't. Bitcoin has been linked to illicit activies and cyber crimes for many years, you would think that they would have a big impact on the market and especially bitcoin, but nothing has happened.

Quote from: aceptamosbitcoin on February 05, 2019, 09:51:47 PM

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

Nothing new it just happen that they are using bitcoin now to fund their plan and trying to collect an easy money. But thankfully, they are just raising a small amount which means more people are still want to use their bitcoin in the right way, better not to support them at all.

Quote from: tomahawk9 on February 05, 2019, 11:02:43 PM

Bitcoin has been linked to illicit activies and cyber crimes for many years, you would think that they would have a big impact on the market and especially bitcoin, but nothing has happened.

It doesn't have a big impact because it's simply not true. I mean, sure, there definitely is criminal demand for Bitcoin, but it's by far not as bad as news outlets want you to believe it is.

They are only out to make Bitcoin look bad, or to spice up their articles to have them generate more revenue through ads. It's a business at the end of the day, and they will do everything they can to make money.

With how widely Bitcoin is accepted and adopted, it's the easiest way for them to at least try to collect funds. How many people will donate if you accept Monero? Not many I guess....

Quote from: maxreish on February 06, 2019, 01:21:49 AM

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the US and other strong country, meaning that they should not be allowed to use Coinbase due to KYC and AML procedures. So the question is how they do this without any help of others.

This was my exact thoughts. There is such strict guidelines to use Coinbase- I am for some reason banned from the exchange.
Seems like a case of paid off infiltrators and conspirators.
Just thinking out loud how difficult it was for someone like me to work with Coinbase but terrorist organizations are having no problems.

Quote from: NeuroticFish on February 05, 2019, 09:45:05 AM

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

This is one kind of adoption that we never wanted in this system.

As for the bolded part above, I can't disagree with this but bitcoin has always existed with the taint of criminality on it--I'm pretty sure you're familiar with Silk Road, so this isn't anything new. This news shouldn't be a black eye on bitcoin, since the form of money Hamas or any terrorist organization gets isn't really relevant, but I'm sure the media is more than willing to make it into said black eye.

$2500 in a week? Pffft.

To NeuroticFish's response: this is absolutely true, and there's a permanent, public record of those donations. That would not happen with cash or gold/silver unless it was set up to be traced. And we know crypto is going to be used for these criminal purposes. It just isn't newsworthy IMO, because US dollars have been used in crime for centuries now, as has every other form of currency. This is a story for people who don't know anything about bitcoin, likely written to elicit fear or outrage....the typical media modus operandi.

Quote from: tomahawk9 on February 05, 2019, 11:02:43 PM

Maybe they don't need to covert to fiat, I mean, you can buy weapons and illicit stuff with btc on the black market so there's no need to cash out.

That's what I'm thinking. Bitcoin is a currency, after all and can easily be used on the dark web to buy weapons (I think; I've never done business on the dark web), which is right up their alley. Funny that all of it is completely traceable, so they're going to have a hard time concealing their spending habits and I'm absolutely sure government agencies are watching.

Quote from: maxreish on February 06, 2019, 01:21:49 AM

A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
I would restrain myself from seeking any conspiracy here. They just created fake account, who know when and where, without full knowledge of how this platform works. Probably even without basic understanding of the bitcoin tech.
I'm speculating here but IMO this is their swan song. 3 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qassam_rocket#cite_note-Ref_h-16)more rockets funded with BTC... I bet the politicians from behind the wall tremble in fear.

Quote from: maxreish on February 06, 2019, 01:21:49 AM

They gain some support that allow them to collect some bitcoin. They already raise money meaning bitcoin can really be use for this kind of action, and maybe this is the reason why government are still hate cryptos. They still have the connection in government, and thats why they are too confident to do this.

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

I think this is a bad step and this is bad news because this is like you giving fees for war there, it's better to use the bitcoin for donations to people who need and not send to terrorists.

Quote from: creeps on February 05, 2019, 11:56:48 AM

Quote from: Febo on February 05, 2019, 11:01:17 AM

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

In less than a week, its wallets received over $2,500 worth of Bitcoin.

If they plan to do something significant with it they will have to hold to at least 2022. You cant do a revolution pocket less.

First I would use word terrorism very carefully. I am no pro of social studies, but I am totally positive it is way over used today.

Second, raising $2500 in a week is a lot? Do you know how much 100th biggest country raise in a week to found their police and army? So their oppression force. I will tell you that way way way more.

All arguments should be fought by words and not with weapons!!!!

Quote from: crzy on February 07, 2019, 09:59:13 PM

Quote from: maxreish on February 06, 2019, 01:21:49 AM

Every currency like fiat money can use for any action like terorism or others criminal activity. Bitcoin is just a tool and its depending on user want to use. Bitcoin dont have relation with terorism or other criminal activity because every fiat money used for criminal activity too

Quote from: Lexurdania on February 11, 2019, 01:05:04 AM

Quote from: crzy on February 07, 2019, 09:59:13 PM

Quote from: maxreish on February 06, 2019, 01:21:49 AM

each currency, either bitcoin or fiat currency, can actually be a means for deviant actions, indeed it depends on the user. because the nature of bitcoin is anonymous, the gap is utilized

We know that by using bitcoin, we can receive the funds from an anonymous person and I guess many other group or people will use bitcoin to raise the fundraising. But it depends on that person itself, because as long as they can use bitcoin for good things, then people in the outside will know that bitcoin can be used for bad things or good things and it depends on the purposes itself. We cannot judge them by doing the wrong way of using bitcoin because I am sure that there will many people using bitcoin for good things.

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

If this news was true, then the government will act unto it accordingly and would probably be having bad consequences to Bitcoin itself. However even with the progressions, we can say that it could possibly help raise the price of Bitcoin to another level.

Quote from: crzy on February 07, 2019, 09:59:13 PM

Quote from: maxreish on February 06, 2019, 01:21:49 AM

We will never know what is going on off the record. The secret intelligence agencies do a lot of work under the people's sight. Maybe Hamas has connections to institutions that we don't know and probably we will never do. The thing that I can be sure of is that the US may know about this funding or they could be part of it.

If the option of bitcoin is not available to them right now then they might be trying out the same crowdfunding with some other payment processors like prefect money or something else. Terrorism is not new here and their ways of fund rising is also not new here. It means we should not give attention to this kind of media as they are indirectly trying accuse bitcoins whereas the actual problem is persisting for decades and governments are busy with something else.

Why Forbes (and others) is not at all pointing out on how charities are easily able to collect funds across borders with the help of bitcoins and how easily crypto based crowdfunding are being done and helping new start ups to flourish to bring innovative solutions to old problems.

Quote from: aceptamosbitcoin on February 05, 2019, 09:51:47 PM

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

I think you have the right opinion mate and this also what I am thinking of. Centralized assets like gold and fiat are proven to be the most asset used in crimes thousands of years ago. After Bitcoin was introduced nothing has changed except for the people to start adopting a more secure asset which is Bitcoin a decentralized currency that is perfect for faster transaction worldwide. All of this seems to me a move to create FUD.

Quote from: peter0425 on February 05, 2019, 12:12:18 PM

If they're really wanted to raise funds without government following them then bitcoin is not a good coin. I'm sure alphabets agency are going after that address that the moment they exchange them the funds will be frozen. Well, this is bad news for crypto and I'm sure media will ride this one and make bitcoin bad again.

There are lots of mixer services that is available already and those agencies won't track down where the money goes as it is being liquidated already into fiat. Well, the amount that they have received is not that much since Bitcoin market is not yet in a bull run i assume they have to hodl it first until 2020+ or something.

Quote from: 0t3p0t on February 12, 2019, 12:21:39 PM

Quote from: aceptamosbitcoin on February 05, 2019, 09:51:47 PM

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

besides this fud scenario, I think that the community agrees with the government, which has not legalized bitcoin because it is used as a means of terrorism. I think that is no more an alibi

Quote from: Renaldi blackspadeteam on March 22, 2019, 11:48:13 PM

bitcoin is not only used to fund terrorists, but it can be used to buy illegal goods, this is the reason many oppose cryptocurrency and make asset prices on the market fall,
I hope the government doesn't think negatively about cryptocurrency,

but with the changing times I think cryptocurrency will be legal money in all countries, it only takes time.

it happened because of its anonymity. I think the government can prevent it by finding the right policy. in some countries this reason is often used not to legalize bitcoin, but I am sure in the future they will realize that crypto must be legalized

Quote from: fauzan Ichsan on March 23, 2019, 02:50:09 AM

Quote from: Renaldi blackspadeteam on March 22, 2019, 11:48:13 PM

Did the government do anything for fiats to stop criminals and bad guys from using it or from using it for their bad doings ? No I dont think so , same applies in crypto . government cant also do anything to stop the bad guys even if the cryptos are being regulated or controlled by them .

@Renaldi blackspadeteam , sure it bring bad reputation to cryptos but that does not cause or that is not the reason on why the price is falling . price only falls because people sells and whales also sells large volume of coins .

Quote from: fauzan Ichsan on March 23, 2019, 02:50:09 AM

Quote from: Renaldi blackspadeteam on March 22, 2019, 11:48:13 PM

That is why people in out there still thinking that bitcoin is only for illegal activity and makes them afraid to join in the crypto world. But soon, after they read another good news of the crypto, they will see that the crypto is like a knife and it depends on the user itself. But that news will make many governments aware and make investigations about the funds, and I think they will get prepare if the Hamas makes something bad.

Quote from: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM

This is a big problem for the image of Bitcoin again, after all this crashes, 2 years and still crawling up again. If some billionaire guys donated tons of Bitcoin then it will be a mess (Who might that be? But I do have a bad feeling about this as there are evidence that civil war would happen in Egypt also like what happened to other Arab countries such as Libya,Syria, Palestine name it!). Why should it come to this point? I am now hoping for a positive trend but seeing this makes me feel sick. Hope that this won't go any worst.

Quote from: shoreno on March 23, 2019, 05:45:31 AM

@Renaldi blackspadeteam , sure it bring bad reputation to cryptos but that does not cause or that is not the reason on why the price is falling . price only falls because people sells and whales also sells large volume of coins .

I don't know but it looks like media news is giving false news about why bitcoin prices are down and maybe many people have trusted FUD, .I think there may be a lot of whales selling large amounts of assets, and I have guessed, the pope can manipulate prices

Quote from: avikz on February 05, 2019, 09:33:45 AM

But the country where the militant group is from has fiat currency rights? So what stops the group from raising funds with the local currency? Or what stops foreign sympathizers from sending them funds via multiple accounts to the group local banks.
Fiat currencies are used by criminals on regular basis, of course you hardly see it being mentioned.

It is not really that shocking considering so far in the world people always funded all these militia and whatever with dollars or any fiat they could find so of course if you provide them with something better than fiat they will use it. People started to buy coffee with bitcoin, they used to use fiat, people started to buy groceries with bitcoin they used to do it with fiat, people started to spend bitcoin on burger joints they used to only accept bitcoin.

Well obviously, people started to use bitcoin to crowdfund hamas which used to use only fiat. That is not really fault of bitcoin, bitcoin is money, its exactly what dollar/euro/yuan and what not is, so telling bitcoin is the enabler of these things is just pure ill mannered and shows who is against bitcoin and who is not.

Bitcoin Forum

Economy => Economics => Topic started by: mich on February 05, 2019, 07:39:11 AM