US Imposes Sanctions on Georgia-Founded Crypto Company for IRGC Ties

The United States has imposed sanctions on a cryptocurrency company founded in Georgia, according to a statement released by the US Department of the Treasury.

As part of the new sanctions package, Washington is targeting crypto companies that fund Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and facilitate illicit financial operations.

Among those designated under sanctions is Iranian-born Siavash Kayvanpour, who also holds citizenship in Dominica and Afghanistan and resides in the United Arab Emirates. Kayvanpour operates a multinational network of companies supporting illicit digital currency activities.

“Kayvanpour, through his Georgia-registered company SHPS Shelbit (Shelbit), operates Shelbit Exchange. Digital currency addresses belonging to the IRGC transferred digital assets equivalent to more than $1 million to them. Additionally, over $2 million was transferred from Shelbit Exchange addresses to IRGC digital currency addresses. Furthermore, digital currency addresses owned or controlled by Kayvanpour transferred more than $2 million in digital assets to US-sanctioned company Nobitex,” the US Department of the Treasury statement reads.