<p>Terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Hamas are using social media platforms, including Telegram, to raise funds via cryptocurrencies, according to new research.</p> <p>The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Washington-based nonprofit research organization, has issued a new report providing pieces of evidence, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)<a href="https://www.jns.org/terrorists-including-hamas-relying-on-telegram-to-raise-cryptocurrency-says-report/"> reported</a> Thursday.</p> <p>The issue will only aggravate when Telegram launches its own blockchain, Telegram Open Network (TON), and native cryptocurrency Gram, MEMRI warned. Gram tokens are <a href="https://www.theblockcrypto.com/tiny/telegram-plans-to-release-its-gram-tokens-ahead-of-oct-31-deadline-report/">scheduled</a> to launch by October.<br /> <br /> Providing documented evidence, MEMRI said Hamas’ military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, used Telegram, Facebook and Twitter, to call on supporters worldwide to send funds using bitcoin on Jan. 29.</p> <p>On March 26, Syria-based jihadi preacher Abdallah Al-Muhaysini posted a video on his Telegram channel calling on Muslims to support Hamas by donating funds using bitcoin, per the report. <br /> <br /> MEMRI said that it has been briefing U.S. and other Western government agencies on their findings. As a result, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been sent letters from U.S. Congress to take immediate action against these findings, per the report.</p>