U.S. Treasury Broadens Iran Sanctions to Cover Crypto, Cites $100 Million-Plus in Oil Payments
AI Market Summary
The U.S. Treasury expanded Iran-related sanctions to explicitly cover the digital asset sector, citing over $100 million in crypto payments tied to crude oil sales and IRGC-linked activity. By authorizing OFAC to sanction foreign firms and service providers supporting Iran's crypto infrastructure, the move raises compliance and counterparty risk for exchanges, brokers, and OTC flows, reinforcing regulatory headwinds across crypto markets.
Impact level
● Medium
Affected assets
BTC/USDT+3.03%
AI Insight · BTC/USDTAI Insight
▼ Bearish
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The U.S. Department of the Treasury said it has expanded its Iran sanctions framework to encompass the digital asset sector, citing cryptocurrency payments of more than $100 million used to support Iran's crude oil sales.
The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels tied to networks involving nuclear and missile activity, cyber operations, and crude oil.
Under the expanded authorities, OFAC can sanction non-U.S. individuals and companies operating in or providing support services to Iran's digital asset sector. Treasury said Iran is increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies to skirt sanctions, including transactions linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and government insiders.
OFAC identified Ukrainian broker Ivan Obukhov, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, as having processed more than $100 million in crypto payments since 2023 to help the IRGC's Quds Force facilitate crude oil sales. OFAC added Obukhov and his UAE-based firm, Foscom FZE, to its sanctions list.
