United States has Seized ~1 Billion in Iranian Crypto Assets, Says Treasury Secretary

The U.S. has seized nearly $1 billion in cryptocurrency tied to Iran marking one of Washington’s largest digital-asset enforcement campaigns as it ramps up financial pressure on Tehran.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said the funds were captured as part of the Trump administration’s “Economic Fury” sanctions strategy which targets networks allegedly used by Iran to move oil revenues and finance operations outside the traditional banking system.

“I think between five and a half to six weeks of an incredibly successful military campaign and Operation Economic Fury, where we have really cut them off. They are at the end of their Tether now financially,” he said.

The latest figure reflects a steady escalation. U.S. authorities reported freezing $344 million in Iran-linked cryptocurrency in April 2026 with officials claiming Tehran had been moving as much as $400 million to $500 million per month through crypto channels before enforcement efforts intensified.

The campaign highlights how digital assets have become a new battleground in sanctions enforcement. Rather than targeting bank accounts, U.S. agencies have increasingly worked with stablecoin issuers and blockchain analytics firms to identify and immobilize wallets linked to sanctioned entities.

The crackdown comes as regulators worldwide pay closer attention to crypto’s role in cross-border payments and sanctions evasion particularly through dollar-pegged stablecoins operating on networks such as TRON.

For Washington, the seizures underscore a broader shift: blockchain transparency is increasingly being used as a financial intelligence tool turning public ledgers into another front in geopolitical and economic warfare.

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