Iranian authorities have relaxed currency restrictions and effectively expanded the space in which businesses can use cryptocurrencies for trade, cross-border settlements, and the repatriation of export earnings to the country.
In recent months, regulators have become less strict in controlling foreign currency transactions and have begun encouraging companies to return money to Iran in various ways, including settlements through digital assets. Against the backdrop of war and increased U.S. pressure, local companies are increasingly using Tether, USDT, and Bitcoin for payments abroad through Iranian crypto exchanges.
For businesses, this has become a way to maintain foreign trade and access to imports. Previously, exporters were required to return a significant portion of their foreign currency earnings to the country and sell them through a state platform at the official rate. This rate was often noticeably lower than the market rate, so companies preferred to keep funds abroad or bring them back without declaring them.
After the war began in February, the Central Bank of Iran, according to entrepreneurs and analysts, effectively began accepting a broader set of repatriation schemes. Traders gained the ability to use cryptocurrencies, exchange currency on the open market, and direct export earnings straight to pay for imports without routing them through the official currency system.
«The central bank does not ask how this money was transferred,» said one businessman close to the authorities.
He added that receiving payment for exports in cryptocurrency has already become a common practice. The Central Bank of Iran declined to comment on the matter.
Cryptocurrency Has Become Part of Iran’s Parallel Financial System
For many years, Iran has been building alternative channels for international settlements to reduce dependence on Western banking infrastructure. After increased sanctions pressure from the United States, demand for such tools has grown even stronger.
Tether has played a special role—a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. It enables payments where a regular bank transaction is impossible or too risky due to sanctions. According to TRM Labs, nearly $10 billion in cryptocurrency passed through Iran in 2025.
Washington has already warned that digital assets are being used to circumvent restrictions. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that the Iranian regime is increasingly choosing cryptocurrency as a tool to bypass sanctions.
In April, Tether froze $344 million in crypto assets in wallets that U.S. authorities linked to the Central Bank of Iran.
Chainalysis blockchain analytics company national security strategic adviser Ethan Danon noted that for Iran, cryptocurrencies have long gone beyond speculation.
«This is not just a novelty or a hobby. This is about a country that has been cut off from global payment systems for quite a long time,» he said.
According to Ethan Danon, the growth in the use of digital assets has been a response to «the structural realities of geopolitics.»
Iran’s internal source of crypto assets remains Bitcoin mining. Elliptic estimates the country’s share at about 4.5% of the world’s first cryptocurrency mining. Such infrastructure gives Iran access to hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto assets that can be used for imports and settlements bypassing trade embargoes.
The U.S. Pressures Crypto Channels as Tehran Seeks Balance
The easing of currency controls is happening in parallel with increased U.S. sanctions pressure. In February 2026, Binance drew the attention of U.S. lawmakers after reports of possible transfers of $1.7 billion linked to Iran. The exchange denied the allegations and stated that its compliance system works effectively.
In May, an international investigation focused on the Iranian crypto exchange Nobitex. The platform was accused of facilitating the movement of funds to circumvent sanctions. It is linked to an influential Iranian family, and the exchange’s operations are seen as part of the country’s parallel financial infrastructure.
In July, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Iranian companies Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company and Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority. They were accused of using digital marine insurance with payments in cryptocurrencies to bypass restrictions.
At the same time, Tehran is increasing pressure on companies that conceal export earnings. Head of the General Inspection Organization of Iran Zabihollah Khodaian stated that more than 20,000 individuals and legal entities have not returned about €94 billion.
Separately, authorities are investigating cases involving €23.5 billion in funds considered unreturned. Iranian judiciary spokesman Ali Kazemi reported the arrest of 22 people linked to oil trading, as well as the issuance of arrest warrants for another 19 individuals.
Why Digital Assets Are Becoming a Convenient Tool for Settlements
Iran Digital Transformation Association representative Alireza Bozorgmehri stated that the Central Bank of Iran has relaxed oversight of crypto exchanges and no longer insists on strict compliance with its own rules. According to him, turnover on local crypto platforms has increased, although it is still insufficient to cover the country’s large-scale financial needs.
Exporters have also noticed the changes. One trader working with steel and supplies to China said he can now direct export earnings directly to purchase necessary materials.
«The rules in general have become softer. Previously, we were required to return export income to the country in foreign currency and sell it on a special platform at lower prices. It was absurd,» he said.
For companies, cryptocurrency in such a scheme becomes not only a means of payment but also an asset in accounting that helps settle obligations to suppliers. Under normal conditions, business finances rely on banking channels, but under sanctions, three pillars of digital settlements come to the fore:
- Blockchain—records transfers and helps carry out settlements without a single center.
- Cryptography—protects access to funds and confirms transactions.
- Peer-to-peer network (P2P)—enables money transfers directly, without a traditional intermediary.
The Iranian case shows why digital currency and decentralized financial services have become part of the global sanctions agenda. In the broad crypto market, alongside Bitcoin, there is Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, NFT, and decentralized applications as a separate format of financial infrastructure. Their practical application and market capitalization have long turned the crypto industry into a factor considered by governments and regulators.
At the same time, the origins of the market are still linked to the idea of independent money, which Satoshi Nakamoto formulated in 2008. For Iran, this idea has acquired practical significance: digital assets help maintain settlements where access to classic payment systems is limited.
Economist Saeed Laylaz believes that further tightening of sanctions will only strengthen the role of cryptocurrencies.
«The more the economy goes into the shadows, the greater the need to use cryptocurrencies,» he noted.
At the end of August, the U.S. Treasury Department also announced Operation «Economic Exile,» targeting Iran and related entities. The restrictions affected 60 counterparties and vessels. Washington separately warned of the risk of sanctions for foreign companies that continue to work with Iran, including in the field of crypto assets.
What Is Cryptocurrency and How to Start Trading
Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that operates on the basis of blockchain and does not require a classic banking intermediary for transferring funds. Transactions are confirmed by the network of participants, and the issuance and protection of assets rely on cryptography, mining, or staking depending on the specific network.
For beginners, it is more convenient to proceed step by step:
- Choose a crypto exchange with a user-friendly interface, liquid trading pairs, and basic account protection tools.
- Create an account, complete identity verification if required by the platform, and enable two-factor authentication.
- Set up a crypto wallet: an exchange wallet is suitable for quick trades, a separate wallet is for more independent asset storage.
- Fund your account, review fees, and start with a small amount to understand orders and price movements without unnecessary risk.
- Store backup phrases and passwords separately from the exchange and do not share them with third parties.
You can trade cryptocurrencies on crypto exchanges, through P2P deals, OTC platforms for large transactions, and brokerage services. In each case, it is important to understand fees, settlement speed, limits, and withdrawal rules in advance.
How to Choose Cryptocurrency for Trading and Investment
For trading and investment, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Binance Coin, Ripple, and Litecoin are most often considered. Bitcoin is usually seen as the market’s base asset, Ethereum is linked to the smart contract ecosystem, Tether is used as a stablecoin for settlements, and Binance Coin, Ripple, and Litecoin are chosen based on liquidity, news, and the specifics of a particular deal.
When choosing an asset, several factors are usually considered:
- Liquidity—how easily the asset can be bought or sold without a significant price shift.
- Volatility—how sharply the price changes during the day or week.
- Market capitalization—helps assess the scale of the asset and market interest.
- News and regulation—government decisions, sanctions, network updates, and actions by major players can quickly change trader sentiment.
- Practical application—the clearer the asset’s role in settlements, DeFi, infrastructure, or transfers, the easier it is to assess its demand.
The most promising assets for active trading are usually those with high liquidity, significant news background, and sufficient volatility. For a long-term approach, network stability, ecosystem development, and real-world use are often more important.
Strategies, Risks, and Other Ways to Earn
There are several basic strategies for trading cryptocurrency:
- Day trading—intraday trades based on price movements.
- Scalping—frequent short trades aiming for small price changes.
- HODL—long-term holding of an asset without trying to catch every market move.
- Arbitrage—looking for price differences between platforms or trading pairs.
- News trading—trading around events that can quickly affect demand and price.
The main risks are associated with high volatility, regulatory pressure, technical failures, hacks, errors in transfers, and fraud. Therefore, before trading, it is important to limit position size, check wallet addresses, and not keep all funds on one platform.
You can earn on cryptocurrency not only through active trading. Among the alternative options are mining, staking, participation in DeFi services, working with NFTs, and airdrops. Each method has its own risks, timeframes, and capital requirements.
CFDs on cryptocurrencies are contracts for the difference in price, not direct coin purchases. The trader opens a position with a broker and earns or loses on the change in the underlying asset’s price. Before trading CFDs, it is important to choose a broker, study leverage size, fees, margin rules, and set risk limits in advance.
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