U.S. Treasury Expands Iran Sanctions to Crypto Sector and Targets $100 Million Oil Payment Network
The U.S. Treasury has expanded sanctions authority to Iran’s digital asset sector, allowing OFAC to target foreign individuals or companies that operate in or support Iran-linked crypto activities.
The action forms part of Operation Economic Outcast, which targeted nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels connected to Iran’s oil, nuclear, missile and cyber networks. The sanctions also target a UAE-based broker accused of processing more than $100 million in cryptocurrency payments since 2023 to facilitate Iranian oil sales supporting the IRGC-Quds Force and its proxies. OFAC additionally blocked Bitcoin, Ethereum and TRON wallets associated with an Iranian intelligence-linked hacking group.
The move significantly raises compliance risks for global crypto exchanges, payment providers and other digital-asset businesses, because foreign companies could now face secondary sanctions simply for supporting Iran’s crypto sector—not only for dealing with previously sanctioned wallets or entities. It demonstrates how blockchain transactions are becoming an increasingly important focus of U.S. sanctions enforcement and financial intelligence.
Clever Robot News Desk 26th July 2026
