India’s security agencies are investigating a new funding method tied to extremist activity in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials say the system operates through Crypto Hawala, a shadow network that uses unregulated cryptocurrencies to move foreign funds into India.
Investigators describe it as more elusive than older funding routes. It leaves fewer records, avoids banks, and hides identities through encrypted wallets and anonymous transfers.
Officials believe the funds are not meant for large headline attacks right now. They say the money is used to keep networks alive, including logistics, recruitment, and propaganda. It also includes small-scale payments that sustain local operatives. Crypto Hawala has become a growing concern because the trail can disappear quickly once crypto is converted into cash.
Foreign Handlers Route Funds Through VPN Wallets
Agencies say Crypto Hawala handlers are operating from multiple foreign locations. Investigators cited countries such as China, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Officials said the money is sent to wallets created with VPNs and false identities. Many wallets are made on platforms with weak verification rules.
After funds arrive, they move across several wallet layers, making tracing difficult. The crypto is then converted into cash through peer-to-peer traders. Investigators said this is happening in cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Agencies also identified “mule accounts” as a major tool in the pipeline. These accounts help spread transactions into small chunks, reducing detection risk while still moving large sums.
Traditional Hawala Shifts From Cash to Digital Transfers
Hawala has long been used to move money outside formal banking systems, relying on cash couriers and trusted operators. Officials say Crypto Hawala is the modern version.
The method replaces cash movement with digital value transfers, cutting out intermediaries and skipping paperwork. This changes how agencies track financial crime.
Investigators warn that Crypto Hawala is not just a financial issue; they see it as a national security challenge. They say the system can rebuild weakened networks quietly and adapt faster than regulation. In their view, the battlefield is shifting into cyberspace.
Encrypted Transfers Replace Cash Couriers
Officials say older funding routes relied on physical couriers and trusted hawala operators, creating points where agencies could intercept money. Now, encrypted transfers are doing the job, with funds moving as crypto tokens instead of cash.
The shift reduces human contact and lowers the risk of arrests during movement, which is why investigators say this model is harder to disrupt. The value crosses borders without a physical trail.
Anonymous Wallets Make Tracing Harder
Investigators say operators use VPNs to hide locations and false identities to create wallets. Some platforms do not require strict verification, making it easier to create new wallets quickly.
Officials say funds are moved through several wallet layers. Each step adds distance from the source, creating a confusing path, delaying detection, and making attribution difficult.
P2P Traders Turn Digital Funds Into Cash
Agencies say a critical stage is the conversion to cash, which is done through peer-to-peer traders. Many operate outside regulated exchanges, allowing direct selling of crypto for cash.
Once cash is withdrawn, the trail weakens. Investigators say this is the most worrying part, as it creates a clean break and limits evidence for enforcement action.
Mule Accounts Build Layers of Protection
Security officials say mule accounts are now a key tool. These accounts belong to ordinary people, some of whom are misled, while others cooperate for small commissions.
Handlers often control multiple mule accounts. Funds move in small chunks, reducing suspicion and helping to shift large sums over time. Investigators say this layered flow makes tracking extremely complex.
Crackdowns Forced Networks to Adapt
Officials say traditional pipelines were weakened in recent years through property seizures, NGO scrutiny, and the dismantling of hawala operators. These steps reduced cash-based funding routes.
Investigators believe the shift to crypto was an adaptation. They say extremist networks looked for new channels, and digital routes offered flexibility, speed, and anonymity.
A New National Security Challenge in Cyberspace
Agencies say this is no longer just a financial crime problem; they see it as a counter-terror challenge. The concern is the timing: as traditional infrastructure weakened, digital funding can rebuild it quietly.
India’s Financial Intelligence Unit has tightened oversight on registered exchanges, which officials say helps inside the regulated system. However, grey markets remain active, P2P trading still exists, and unregulated wallets remain a gap. Agencies say enforcement is now playing catch-up.
Conclusion
Officials say Crypto Hawala has changed how underground money moves. Value now travels through code instead of couriers. Borders matter less, and internet access matters more. Investigators believe the system is being used to revive extremist-linked support networks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The main threat is anonymity. Once crypto becomes cash, the trail can vanish. Security agencies say the next major battlefield is inside digital wallets.
Appendix: Glossary of Key Terms
Crypto Hawala: Informal cross-border money transfer using crypto outside banks.
Hawala Network: An underground system that moves funds via trusted agents, not banks.
P2P Trading: Direct crypto buying/selling between people without intermediaries.
Mule Account: Account or wallet used to move funds for others, often for commission.
VPN Masking: Using VPNs to hide location and identity during wallet creation or transfers.
Layering: Moving funds across multiple wallets to break the transaction trail.
Cash-Out Hub: Location where crypto is converted into cash through informal traders.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crypto Hawala
1- What is Crypto Hawala?
Crypto Hawala is an informal system that uses cryptocurrency to move money across borders outside formal banking.
2- Why is it hard to stop?
It uses anonymous wallets, VPN layers, and P2P conversion, which creates limited records for investigators.
3- What is a mule account?
A mule account is used to move funds on behalf of others. It often hides the real operator behind the transaction.
4- How does cash conversion happen?
Officials say P2P traders exchange crypto for cash directly, often outside regulated exchange systems.