The United States Department of the Treasury has extended the scope of sanctions against Iran to include encryption assets, gold, technology, aviation and shipping as priority areas. This means that businesses that help relevant Iranian entities transfer funds will face higher United States law enforcement risks.
Extension of sanctions to encryption channels
This adjustment was based on Executive Decree 13902. According to the United States Treasury Department, Iran is using encrypted assets to circumvent traditional banking restrictions and to provide access to some of the purchases and cross-border transfers.
The United States Treasury Secretary, Scott Becent, stated that businesses assisting Iran in the transfer of illicit funds could be cut off from the United States dollar system. For a global encryption platform, this expression means that accounts, transactions and partners associated with Iran will face more scrutiny.
OFAC has taken action on nearly 60 targets.
The new rules expand the enforcement space of the United States Office of Overseas Assets Control (OFAC) to impose sanctions on individuals and companies associated with Iranian encryption, gold and technology operations.
At present, the United States has imposed new sanctions on nearly 60 individuals, enterprises and vessels associated with Iran, including the United Arab Emirates, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe. One of them, specifically named as an Emirates shipping broker, was charged with processing over $100 million in encrypted payments related to Iranian oil sales.
- Sanctions coverage: encryption, gold, technology, aviation, shipping
- Targeted: nearly 60 individuals, enterprises and vessels
- Area: UAE, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe
Iranian encryption is still growing.
The report mentions that the United States Department of the Treasury had previously pressured Tether to freeze approximately $475 million related to Iran. Tether then completed the freeze through the wallet blacklist system.
Despite the continued tightening of sanctions, Iranian encryption continues to expand. It was reported that Iran ' s encryption economy had exceeded $7.78 billion in 2025, affected by inflation and limited access to international banking. The new measures do not imply that all encrypted transactions will be found to be in violation, but the risk of compliance and settlement is increasing for exchanges, payment service providers and related intermediaries with which Iranian enterprises continue to operate.