An 18-year-old from Ilford, east London, has been convicted of terror offences for providing technical assistance to extremist groups in concealing cryptocurrency transactions. Yusuf Shah began engaging in religious discussions on social media at age 13 in 2021 and by late 2022 had expressed support for organisations such as al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban.

Shah’s involvement extended beyond online expressions of support; he offered advice on cybersecurity measures aimed at helping these groups evade detection when transferring funds via cryptocurrency. Authorities intercepted him at Heathrow Airport in 2024 when he was 16 years old, leading to the seizure of his phone and computer as part of the investigation.

The case illustrates growing concerns about the use of emerging technologies by extremist networks to facilitate illicit financial activities. Shah’s sentencing is scheduled for September.