Summary
- OFAC designated three individuals and six entities across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa for facilitating financial transactions on behalf of ISIS.
- The action targets Bitcoin Xchange, a Syria-based money services business (MSB) that has transferred funds for ISIS associates from multiple countries, including the United States.
- Additionally, OFAC identified two TRON wallet addresses linked to French national Miloud Abderrahmane, a designated ISIS financial facilitator.
On June 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated three individuals and six entities for facilitating financial transactions on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The enforcement action targets financial infrastructure that helped individuals across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa move crypto to ISIS.
ISIS support via crypto
The sanctions hit Bitcoin Xchange, a Syria-based money services business established in late 2020 by Abdelhakim Boukich, a former Dutch national and extremist financial facilitator, and associates. According to OFAC, “Boukich and Bitcoin Xchange have transferred money on behalf of ISIS associates originating from multiple countries, including Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States.”
They also impact Turkish MSBs Spider Gayrimenkul Ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Spider) and Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic Ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Alkaram). Both exchanges are owned and controlled by Mohamad Alhmidan, who was previously designated by OFAC in March 2016. Spider originated as a hawala operating in Syria and was used to transfer money from ISIS-controlled territories to other regions.
Miloud Abderrahmane, a French national who instructed ISIS supporters on building explosives, was sanctioned for conducting transactions with ISIS affiliates. OFAC identified two TRON blockchain addresses linked to Abderrahmane.
- TBXMiRqUp1XH1zLazWu8cWitMAScv4HsYq
- TDFj8tYzfLDkwEMo4MJ2DfrbpMztuCCnan
In the Chainalysis Reactor graph below, we see transfers from Abderrahmane’s wallet to wallets used in Syria- and Gaza-based donation campaigns.
The sanctions also include three additional MSBs: Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited, and Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited. All three are owned by Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, a Nigeria-based ISIS-WA financial facilitator.
Impact on cryptocurrency compliance
For global VASPs, cryptocurrency exchanges, and financial institutions, this action requires immediate updates to sanctions screening and transaction monitoring protocols. The identification of specific TRON addresses highlights the importance of robust blockchain analytics capabilities to trace funds and identify downstream exposure.
With Chainalysis’s solutions, organizations can monitor and detect exposure to these high-risk terrorist financing networks. We have labeled the relevant cryptocurrency addresses associated with today’s designations in our product suite to ensure our customers can proactively identify exposure and maintain global compliance standards.
FAQs
Who did OFAC designate in this ISIS-related action?
OFAC designated three individuals — Miloud Abderrahmane (France), Abdelhakim Boukich (Syria), and Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad (Nigeria) — along with six entities: Bitcoin Xchange (Syria), Spider and Alkaram (Turkey), and Nine to Nine Exchange, Manhattan Bureau, and Generation Currency (Nigeria).
What is Bitcoin Xchange and why was it designated?
Bitcoin Xchange is a Syria-based money services business established in late 2020 by Abdelhakim Boukich. It was designated for transferring money on behalf of ISIS associates from multiple countries, including Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States.
Were any cryptocurrency addresses identified in this designation?
Yes. OFAC identified two TRON wallet addresses linked to Miloud Abderrahmane, a French national designated for conducting transactions with ISIS affiliates and providing explosives-related information to ISIS supporters.
What are the compliance requirements following this designation?
All U.S. persons must block property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities. International VASPs and financial institutions must immediately screen for and block any transactions involving these parties. Because the designations carry secondary sanctions risks, foreign institutions that continue processing transactions for these entities risk being cut off from the U.S. financial system.
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