The U.S. Treasury has frozen over $130 million in cryptocurrency connected to the Central Bank of Iran, marking a significant increase in pressure on the country's financial operations.
On July 14, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the action involves four Tron wallets holding approximately $131 million in USDT. This measure is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Iran's illicit financial activities, which have increasingly utilized digital assets.
Details of the Frozen Assets
The frozen funds were identified thanks to on-chain analysis, revealing specific wallet addresses that are now blocked. The latest action follows a previous freeze in April, when U.S. authorities blocked $344 million in USDT across two additional Tron wallets linked to Iranian networks.
Continued U.S. Financial Pressure on Iran
These measures are part of a broader U.S. strategy that has intensified in 2026, affecting Iran's digital asset infrastructure. In June, the Treasury sanctioned four Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges, including Nobitex, which was reportedly responsible for over half of Iran's digital asset inflows during the previous year. Bessent reaffirmed the commitment to monitoring and cutting off Iranian government revenue networks, stating, "We will continue to follow the money." The freeze on these wallets, implemented through controls within the USDT token, further demonstrates the U.S. government's resolve to curb Iran's access to financial channels associated with illicit activities.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
