Blockchain technologies are used by terrorists to finance terrorist attacks

U.S. intelligence officials have identified cases of blockchain technologies being used to finance terrorism. Thus, the attackers developed an NFT in support of Islamic terrorism for attacking Taliban positions in Afghanistan. Information about this was published by The Wall Street Journal, citing high-ranking former US law enforcement officials.

By using NFTs, attackers are trying to circumvent Western sanctions aimed at preventing terrorism. The non-fungible tokens have already been discovered on the Rarible marketplace. Despite the fact that the platform has already blocked terrorists' NFTs, the risk that attackers will continue to use this method of financing remains. According to US intelligence officials, it is impossible to completely remove NFTs because they are protected from censorship by blockchain technology.

In addition to Rarible, NFTs were found on the world’s largest NFT marketplace, OpenSea, where the tokens were also removed and their creator’s account was blocked, citing a «zero-tolerance policy for digital collectibles that incite hatred and violence.»

This is not the only case where Islamic terrorists have used blockchain technologies to spread their messages and test new terrorist financing strategies. Thus, in early September, it became known about the NFT, which was created and distributed by a supporter of the Islamic State terrorist group for the purpose of propaganda and recruitment of mercenaries. The non-interchangeable token, called «IS-NEWS #01,» is an image of the Islamic State emblem with text praising the Islamist militants.