US Freezes Over $130 Million in Iran-Linked Crypto Assets, Tightens Pressure

The United States has intensified its pressure campaign against Iran by freezing over $130 million in cryptocurrency assets. The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against several digital wallets believed to be connected to Iran's central bank. The action also includes over 50 individuals and entities suspected of being part of Iran's sanctions evasion network.

This latest move follows the collapse of a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. The Trump administration has recently announced further sanctions and expanded military actions against the country.

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The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on several digital wallets known to be linked to the Central Bank of Iran, freezing their assets.

Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, reportedly cooperated with U.S. authorities in freezing the assets in the targeted wallets. This marks the second major action this year, following a previous freeze of approximately $344 million in Iranian-linked cryptocurrency in April, bringing the total frozen assets to over $470 million in 2026.

The U.S. views cryptocurrency as a tool Iran uses to circumvent international financial sanctions and is strengthening its crackdown on such activities. Reports suggest that countries like Iran, Russia, and North Korea are increasingly using cryptocurrency to fund operations and conduct international transactions due to its relatively lax regulation compared to traditional financial systems.

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Tether cooperated with U.S. authorities in freezing assets in the sanctioned wallets.