Evidence of crypto usage by ISIS is ‘mounting’: TRM Labs

Blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs recently released a report that presents several case studies highlighting the use of cryptocurrency by ISIS affiliates across Asia. The report links on-chain connections between these groups and pro-ISIS fundraising campaigns in Syria.

Published on July 21, the report indicated that there was “mounting on-chain evidence” from the past twelve months that pro-ISIS networks in Tajikistan, Indonesia and Afghanistan have utilized cryptocurrency to help facilitate operations.

According to the report, the majority of transactions linked with the cases involved the use of Tether (USDT) on the Tron network (TRX).

On July 21, Cointelegraph covered a presentation by Tara Annison, Elliptic’s former head of technical crypto advisory, where she mentioned criminals were shifting away from Bitcoin in favor of stablecoins. She also highlighted that TRON and Tether were popular assets for illicit use.

The report pointed to an instance in Tajikistan where crypto was used to recruit fighters for ISIS’s affiliate in Afghanistan. Specifically a fundraising campaign, which was operational for more than a year, was linked to an address that received “around USD 2 million in USDT” on Tron in 2022.

Related: Debunking the myth: Cryptocurrency is used for criminal activity

TRM Labs, through blockchain tracing, identified the flow of funds and notified the exchange used by the group for cashing out their funds. The exchange then alerted local authorities, resulting in Turkish authorities arresting a senior ISIS fundraiser. 

Additionally, the report noted a significant number of individuals using Indonesian-based exchanges to send funds to addresses associated with pro-ISIS fundraising campaigns in Syria.

“Over USD 517,000 was sent in 2022 by individuals using an Indonesia-based exchange to addresses identified by TRM Labs as belonging to pro-ISIS fundraising campaigns in Syria and the local exchanges that facilitate their activities.”

It was further reported that a media unit linked to ISIS’s affiliate in Pakistan (ISPP) began promoting its ability to accept donations in the second half of 2022.

TRM Labs identified that the addresses controlled by the group had a total volume of approximately $40,000 over the last twelve months.

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