Benjamin Netanyahu requests cryptocurrency plan to counter potential banking sanctions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a plan to use cryptocurrency and blockchain networks to assist Israel in bypassing potential banking sanctions. Decrypt and The Defiant both reported that Netanyahu disclosed the initiative during an interview on Channel 10, four days before Israel holds a national election. [1][2]

The Defiant reported that Netanyahu identified blockchain technology as one of several alternatives. The move comes as Britain threatens action against businesses that support settlement construction. [2]

Decrypt reported that Netanyahu told citizens to prepare for a rainy day and expressed confidence that the United States will eventually halt military funding. Netanyahu stated that it is only a question of time before Israel stops receiving tens of billions of dollars in American defense assistance. [1]

Since February 2026, the United States and Israel have been engaged in a war with Iran and its regional allies. Israel is located in West Asia, with Tel Aviv serving as its largest urban area and economic centre. [3][5]