US freezes $131M in Iran-linked crypto as Middle East tensions rise
The U.S. government, at the direction of the Treasury Department, has frozen approximately $131 million in cryptocurrency (USDT) held in digital wallets linked to Iran's Central Bank. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the action, stating it is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Iran's illicit financial activities, including the abuse of digital assets. This freeze, executed with stablecoin issuer Tether's compliance, follows heightened hostilities in the Middle East, including renewed U.S. port blockades, military strikes, and retaliatory Iranian drone attacks. It is the latest in a series of U.S. asset seizures under "Operation Economic Fury," a financial pressure campaign that has reportedly seized around $1 billion in Iranian crypto since early 2025.
cointelegraphDün 23:55
