Thu 30 April 2026 ▪
4
min reading ▪ acc
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have crossed a new frontier, now into crypto territory. The United States announces that it has seized nearly $500 million in cryptocurrencies linked to Iran, revealing the scale of the ongoing financial offensive. So Finance Minister Scott Bessent is putting this operation into a strategy aimed at stopping the regime’s economic flows. The reality behind this announcement is emerging: cryptocurrencies are establishing themselves as a central tool in today’s economic confrontations.
In short
- The United States has announced the seizure of nearly $500 million in cryptocurrencies linked to Iran.
- This operation is part of a wider strategy aimed at weakening the financial resources of the regime.
- Washington is increasing the pressure by extending its sanctions to several economic players and international networks.
- Iran’s economy is under a lot of pressure, especially due to the significant depreciation of its currency.
A record raid in the heart of the American offensive
While Trump had just rejected an offer regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Scott Bessent announced that the United States had taken over “nearly $500 million in crypto assets linked to Iran” as part of an economic campaign aimed directly at the Iranian regime.
During an intervention on Fox Business, he clarified: “We’re freezing bank accounts everywhere. Above all, we’re making actors less inclined to deal with the regime.”. This statement is part of an offensive strategy structured around several levers:
- Seizure of cryptocurrencies linked to Iranian entities;
- Freezing international bank accounts;
- Increased pressure to deter the regime’s economic partners;
- Extension of sanctions to assets held abroad, including real estate.
All these actions fall under “Operation Economic Fury”launched in March 2025 to weaken Tehran’s financial circuits. The announced amount exceeds the previously identified $344 million, mainly in USDT blocked in partnership with Tether.
No clarification of the discrepancy has been provided, raising questions about the true extent of the seizure and the exact nature of the property involved.
Global economic pressure where cryptocurrency becomes a strategic lever
In addition to this seizure, the US operation is part of a strategy of global economic pressure. Speaking about the critical situation in Iran, Scott Bessent said: “they are in the middle of a currency crisis”. Iran’s currency reportedly lost 60 to 70% of its value against the dollar while the country’s major bank collapsed in December.
At the same time, US authorities have tightened sanctions targeting 35 entities linked to Iran’s parallel banking system, as well as a Chinese refinery and around forty shipping companies involved in the transportation of oil.
Other measures targeted military supply chains, with sanctions against 14 actors involved in the production of drones and missiles. As of February 2025, more than 1,000 entities, vessels, and aircraft linked to Iran have been sanctioned. In this context, crypto also appears in more unexpected uses.
Reports suggest an Iranian plan for bitcoin tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, while fraudulent actors are abusing the situation and demanding payments in BTC or USDT to allow ships to pass through.
This rise in the power of cryptocurrencies in sanctions and circumvention mechanisms related to geopolitical conflicts such as the Iran war underscores a profound transformation in the balance of economic power. These assets become both targets and instruments of state strategies. As these practices develop, they could accelerate debates about regulation, traceability, and the role of private actors in international policy implementation.
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A graduate of Sciences Po Toulouse and holder of the blockchain consultant certification issued by Alyra, I joined the Cointribune adventure in 2019. Convinced of the potential of blockchain to transform many sectors of the economy, I committed myself to raising awareness and informing the general public about this ever-evolving ecosystem. My goal is to enable everyone to better understand blockchain and take advantage of the opportunities it offers. I strive every day to provide an objective analysis of current events, decipher market trends, convey the latest technological innovations, and put into perspective the economic and social issues of this ongoing revolution.
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