US seized $500M in Iranian crypto assets, Treasury secretary says

AI Impact AnalysisGrok analyzing...

📄Full Article· Automatically extracted by trafilatura1954 words

Source: Scott Bessent Cointelegraph reached out to the US Treasury and Tether for an explanation on the gap between the two figures, but had not received a response by publication. Related: Iran views BTC as strategic asset, but USDt still dominates oil tolls: BPI Bessent said Operation Economic Fury has taken a toll on Iran’s economy. One of the country’s largest banks collapsed in December, and its currency has fallen 60 to 70% against the US dollar. “They're in the middle of a currency crisis,” he said. Treasury has also intensified pressure by ramping up sanctions across multiple fronts. On Tuesday, OFAC sanctioned 35 entities and individuals tied to Iran’s shadow banking network. Separately, it targeted a Chinese oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping firms operating as part of Iran's shadow fleet, which moves Iranian crude to buyers in China and elsewhere in violation of sanctions. The actions also hit Iran’s missile and drone supply chain, with 14 individuals and entities sanctioned for procuring components for Shahed-series attack drones and ballistic missile propellants. Since February 2025, OFAC has sanctioned over 1,000 Iran-related persons, vessels, and aircraft as part of Operation Economic Fury. Related: Binance.US cuts spot trading fees to near zero in push to undercut rivals Earlier this month, reports emerged that Iran was considering charging ships Bitcoin tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with empty tankers allowed free passage and loaded ones charged around $1 per barrel of oil. Forbes reported that Iran had already collected revenue from such tolls, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed the claims. Separately, maritime risk firm Marisks warned that fraudulent actors were impersonating Iranian security services and contacting stranded shipowners, demanding payment in Bitcoin or USDt in exchange for clearance through the strait. Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?

Data Status✓ Full text extractedRead Original (CoinTelegraph)

🔍Historical Similar Events· Keyword + Asset Matching6 items

2026-04-22

U.S. Treasury Secretary Presses Senate to Pass Crypto Market Structure Legislation

2026-04-19

Mysterious Crypto PAC Receives Massive Contributions From US Commerce Secretary’s Old Firm

2026-03-11

Pro-Crypto Senator Meets Fed Chair Pick to Discuss Digital Assets

Similarity 140%關鍵字 assets/crypto同分類 hot

2026-04-27

Fidelity Digital Assets says bitcoin is leading crypto market stabilization

Similarity 130%關鍵字 assets/crypto