Australian Interior Minister calls cryptocurrency a means of financing terrorism

According to Australian Home Secretary Peter Dutton, cryptocurrencies are often used by terrorists to “finance their deadly missions.”

During a counter-terrorism conference in Melbourne, Dutton said the possibility of anonymous use of cryptocurrencies allows extremists to avoid the attention of law enforcement agencies. He believes that the increased use of digital currencies, prepaid cards, online payment systems and crowdfunding platforms can provide new channels for financing terrorism.

“The anonymity offered by such technologies allows people who finance terrorism to conceal their actions,” the Australian Interior Minister said.

Dutton also noted that countries around the world need to stay ahead of new technologies to combat the financing of terrorism, and share experiences. According to Peter Dutton, charitable and non-profit organizations are often used to finance terrorism, while they themselves do not realize that they are involved in such activities.

In April this year, the RAND think tank introduced
The results of a study according to which the risk of using cryptocurrencies to finance terrorism is not as great as is commonly believed. Similar data leads
and the German Ministry of Finance – the use of crypto assets in the financing of terrorism remains low.