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07/16/2026

US Sanctions Freeze $131M in Iran Central Bank Crypto Wallets

What happened: The US Treasury’s OFAC added four TRON-based wallets linked to Iran’s Central Bank to its sanctions list, prompting Tether to freeze $131 million in USDT.

US Sanctions Freeze $131M in Iran Central Bank Crypto Wallets

What happened: The US Treasury’s OFAC added four TRON-based wallets linked to Iran’s Central Bank to its sanctions list, prompting Tether to freeze $131 million in USDT. These wallets had previously held over $165 million, with some funds moved prior to the freeze. Combined with an earlier $344 million freeze in April, the total USDT blocked from Iran’s central bank now stands at approximately $475 million.

Why it matters: This action, part of "Operation Economic Fury," underscores the growing use of stablecoins in sanctioned jurisdictions and the increasing pressure on issuers like Tether to comply with geopolitical mandates. The move follows renewed US-Iran tensions and congressional scrutiny of Tether’s exposure to Iran. OFAC’s statement that its wallet lists are "not exhaustive" suggests further enforcement is likely, raising compliance risks for global stablecoin flows.

Source: CoinDesk