The U.S. Treasury Department has expanded its Iran sanctions reach to cover crypto, gold, technology, aviation and shipping. This has raised new risks for companies that help Iranian entities move money.
The move puts global crypto platforms under greater pressure as Washington targets crypto routes used to bypass traditional banking restrictions.
Crypto Becomes a Bigger Sanctions Target
The U.S. Treasury has expanded its sanctions against Iran to stop the country from using other financial channels to avoid U.S. pressure. Under Executive Order 13902, the Treasury is targeting five key sectors: crypto, gold, technology, aviation and shipping.
Led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the move gives the U.S. more power to take action against businesses linked to these sectors and Iran.
The Treasury says Iran is using crypto to move money, avoid banking restrictions and support activities including (funding military purchases) linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian officials.
The IRGC is estimated to account for around 50% of Iran’s crypto activity, using digital assets for oil sales, moving money and avoiding sanctions.
The Enforcement Action Hit New 60 Targets Already
The new rules give OFAC more power to target people and companies linked to Iran’s crypto, gold and technology sectors. The U.S. has already sanctioned nearly 60 people, companies and vessels connected to Iran across countries such as the UAE, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe.
One of the targets was a UAE-based shipping broker accused of handling more than $100 million in crypto payments connected to Iranian oil sales.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that companies helping Iran move illegal money could be cut off from the U.S. dollar system.
The U.S. has also stopped some licenses that allowed certain money transfers to Iran, adding further pressure on the country’s financial system.
Iran’s Crypto Activity Surges Despite Sanctions
Earlier, the U.S. Treasury also pressured Tether to freeze about $475 million in USDT linked to Iran. Tether was able to block the funds using its built-in wallet blacklist system.
Iran’s crypto economy has also grown significantly, reaching more than $7.78 billion in 2025, as inflation and limited access to global banking pushed more activity toward digital assets.
While, the new rules do not mean that everyone using crypto is breaking the law. Instead, they create bigger risks for global crypto exchanges and other companies that work with Iranian businesses.
Companies that continue helping sanctioned Iranian groups could face U.S. sanctions and lose access to the U.S. financial system.
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