Israeli Defense Ministry Freezes $7 Million in Crypto Wallets Linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards

The National Headquarters for Combating Economic Terrorism (NHCET) within Israel's Defense Ministry has identified and frozen 37 digital cryptocurrency wallets used to finance terrorism by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These wallets contained cryptocurrencies valued at over 24 million Israeli shekels (approximately $7 million). Defense Minister Israel Katz signed administrative orders on Wednesday to freeze these assets.

Investigations revealed that the wallets facilitated the transfer of funds to Iran-backed terrorist organizations, primarily Hezbollah. Analysis indicated that these wallets were part of a broader infrastructure supporting terrorism financing, with tens of millions of dollars transferred over the years to such groups.

The NHCET, led by Attorney Yurai Metzlav, operates in coordination with Israeli intelligence and enforcement agencies including Mossad, Shin Bet, Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN), police, prison service, and tax authority. These agencies provide critical intelligence, enabling the Defense Minister to issue freezing orders without lengthy investigations or court proceedings. Furthermore, the NHCET shares gathered intelligence with foreign countries to encourage parallel actions against these terror financing networks.