Crypto: Iran loosens its rules to circumvent sanctions

Iran loosens part of its currency controls and allows more room for crypto in its international exchanges. According to the Financial Times, exporters can now use their foreign revenues to directly finance imports and resort to bitcoin or USDT for certain cross-border settlements. Nearly 9.9 billion dollars of crypto activity had already been attributed to Iran in 2025. The Iranian Central Bank has not publicly commented on these new rules.

In brief

Crypto: Tehran gives more leeway to exporters

The change first applies to currencies. Iranian companies can directly use part of their foreign revenues to finance their imports. They no longer necessarily have to sell these currencies first on the government platform at the official rate.

Crypto is among the possible channels. Bitcoin and especially USDT can be used to settle certain transactions via Iranian exchanges. This opening comes one month after Washington sanctioned Shelbit and Aban Tether, two platforms accused by the US Treasury of facilitating financial circuits linked to Iran.