US freezes $130 million in Iran-linked crypto assets

The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting cryptocurrency wallets linked to Iran's central bank, freezing more than $130 million in digital assets as Washington intensifies efforts to disrupt Tehran's financial networks.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on X that the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had sanctioned multiple digital wallets connected to the Central Bank of Iran, describing the move as part of a broader campaign against Iran's illicit financial activities.

"US Treasury is committed to disrupting and degrading Iran's illicit financial activities, including its abuse of digital assets," Bessent wrote.

According to the Treasury secretary, the sanctions resulted in the freezing of more than $130 million in assets held in the targeted cryptocurrency wallets.

"We will continue to aggressively follow the money and deny the Iranian regime access to the proceeds of its illicit revenue schemes," Bessent added.