Netanyahu orders blockchain plan to prepare for possible banking sanctions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an October 23, 2026, interview with Roy Katz on Channel 10 that he had requested a contingency plan, including blockchain, in case international banking sanctions disrupt Israel’s ability to move money abroad; no implementing agency, currency or timetable has been named. A Jewish People Policy Institute count recorded 139 sanctions, restrictions and diplomatic measures against Israel across 64 countries and entities as of October 18, 2026; the measures do not amount to cutting off Israeli banks. Blockchain can move tokens, but businesses still need banks or exchanges to convert them into usable funds, and those intermediaries must comply with sanctions.