Mobs Who Stormed the Capitol Received Bitcoin Donation from France

Chainalysis today published a blog post addressing how some of the most controversial and well-known figures of the alt-right are getting financial support outside of mainstream methods. Blockchain intelligence platform said a France-based computer programmer sent 28.15 Bitcoins to far-right activists who gathered outside the US Capitol before rioters broke into the building.

The large cryptocurrency donation was sent to 22 separate addresses in a single transaction that occurred a month before protesters stormed the iconic building on December 8. Worth roughly $550,000 at the transaction date, nearly half of this mount was sent Nicholas Fuentes, the leader of a radicalized movement whose views embrace white nationalism.

Fuentes joined pro-Trump protesters on the steps of the Capitol to oppose the ceremonial counting of the electoral votes and temporarily disrupted the Congress affirming of Joe Biden’s victory.

“The donation, as well as reports of the planning that went into the Capitol raid on alt-right communication channels, also suggests that domestic extremist groups may be better organized and funded than previously thought,” said Chainalysis.

Cryptocurrency crimefighter revealed that Fuentes was the biggest beneficiary of the donation, having received 13.5 BTC — worth $250,000 at the time of the transfer. Before that, the biggest donation he had ever received in a single month was $2,707 worth of bitcoin.

Fuentes, who took Twitter to insist he had not entered the building, called for his supporters to kill state legislators who don’t support Trump efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crypto money went to support anti-immigration organization VDARE, alt-right streamer Ethan Ralph, and several addresses whose owners are as yet unidentified.

Chainalysis, however, has abstained from directly linking these donations to the mob that overwhelmed the Capitol and sent lawmakers into hiding, leaving a police officer and four others dead.

“Still, this donation isn’t a one-off. The data shows that domestic extremists have been receiving a steady stream of cryptocurrency donations since 2016,” the firm concluded.

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