Crypto Trail to Terror: Man Sentenced for Funding ISIS
Decades Behind Bars
A Virginia man, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, has been sentenced to decades in prison for converting $185,000 into cryptocurrency and funneling the funds to female ISIS members in Syria. His conviction marks one of the most high-profile federal cases linking digital assets to terrorism financing.
From Social Media to Syria
Chhipa raised money both online and in person, converting it into crypto before transferring it to Turkey, where it was smuggled across the border to ISIS operatives. The Justice Department described his actions as directly financing terrorist atrocities.
Complex Courtroom Drama
The legal case, ongoing since 2023, was filled with unusual twists, including Chhipa requesting a new lawyer and demanding court access to a woman he claimed as his wife—Allison Ekren, a Kansas-born American who joined ISIS in Syria.
Convictions and Charges
A federal jury convicted Chhipa on multiple counts, including conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and four additional charges related to supporting ISIS financially.
Crypto and Terrorism
This case adds to growing concerns about cryptocurrency’s role in terror financing. In a separate FBI-led operation, over $200,000 in crypto tied to Hamas was seized earlier this year. Officials claim such efforts show their determination to track illicit crypto flows.
Policy Shifts Amid Crypto Growth
While the Biden administration had pushed for tighter crypto regulations, the current Trump administration has embraced a more open approach—recently hosting the White House Crypto Summit and creating a federal Bitcoin reserve.
Still, global scrutiny continues. In early 2025, Russia moved to ban crypto mining in parts of the country, citing energy consumption concerns tied to blockchain operations..
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