Tether confirmed freezing approximately $550 million in Iran-linked USDT in 2026, while a Senate Democratic report found USDT dominated activity in 84% of Iran- and proxy-linked wallets studied, calling it a 'significant financial lifeline' for the regime.
The Manhattan US attorney's office and DOJ's criminal division are examining whether Binance knowingly allowed trading that violated US sanctions on Iran, three years after the exchange agreed to $4.3 billion in penalties to settle similar charges.
TRON Inc., a TRX digital asset treasury firm, was receiving its TRX directly from an HTX wallet until shortly after HTX was sanctioned by the UK. Following the sanctions, TRON Inc. transitioned to receiving TRX from a wallet funded by HTX.
The US Treasury sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchange BitBank, accusing it of processing hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and facilitating payments for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Hamas' military wing Al Qassam Brigades advised potential donors to avoid using Binance for cryptocurrency transfers and instead use platforms including Bybit, OKX, Kast, and Redotpay, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents released in September 2026.
CoinEx announced it will cease operations on December 22, 2026, nine years after launching. The closure comes less than three months after a Wall Street Journal investigation highlighted the exchange's role as a hub for illicit Iranian cash transactions, amid broader challenges in the cryptocurrency market.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking approximately $61 million in cryptocurrency allegedly derived from black-market sales of sanctioned Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, with funds allegedly laundered through Binance to Chinese buyers.
The US Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint against $61 million in cryptocurrency held in Binance accounts, alleging the funds originated from black market Iranian oil sales and money laundering operations.
The U.S. Department of Justice seized Telegram channels operated by Xinbi Guarantee, a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, while the Secret Service froze $52.8 million in USDT across 52 wallets on September 8. Treasury designated Xinbi as a criminal organization, citing its role in processing $24 billion in scam-related transactions.
Spain's largest cryptocurrency exchange Bit2Me has established a specialized unit called Bit2Shield to assist police, courts, and financial institutions with tracing, seizing, storing, and liquidating cryptocurrency linked to criminal investigations.
Wallets linked to North Korea's Lazarus Group moved more than $30 million in Bitcoin through decentralized exchange Hyperliquid over three weeks, raising sanctions compliance questions as the platform pursues US market entry through talks with Kraken parent Payward.
A federal judge has postponed Roman Storm's retrial to April 26, 2027, as the court weighs his pending motion for acquittal following his conviction related to the Tornado Cash cryptocurrency mixer. U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla ordered the delay to allow time to consider the motion.
Kraken temporarily froze customer accounts after nearly 12,000 unsolicited small cryptocurrency transfers from wallets linked to sanctioned exchange HTX reached the platform between August 17-24. The dust attack triggered Kraken's compliance screening systems, though the exchange has since restored access to affected accounts.
The U.S. Treasury expanded sanctions against Iran's digital asset sector on August 24, granting broader authority to target foreign entities facilitating crypto transactions, while also sanctioning four India-based companies and three Indian nationals for importing Iranian petroleum products.
The U.S. Treasury expanded sanctions against Iran's digital asset sector on August 24, granting broader authority to target foreign entities facilitating crypto transactions, while also sanctioning four India-based companies and three Indian nationals for importing Iranian petroleum products.
The US Treasury's OFAC issued a sectoral determination allowing it to sanction any person worldwide who operates in Iran's digital asset sector, as part of Treasury Secretary Bessent's 'Operation Economic Outcast' targeting Iran's economy through crypto, gold, shipping and technology sectors.
The US Treasury Department expanded Iran sanctions to cover the country's digital asset sector, citing over $100 million in crypto payments allegedly used to facilitate Iranian oil sales as part of 'Operation Economic Outcast.'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new wave of sanctions aimed at Iran's use of cryptocurrency and international networks to circumvent existing US economic restrictions. The move represents an escalation in Washington's economic campaign against Tehran, with threats of secondary sanctions on cooperating entities.
The Trump administration unveiled Operation Economic Outcast, a sweeping sanctions offensive against Iran targeting digital assets, oil, shipping, aviation, gold, and technology sectors. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned trading partners to cut ties with Iran but indicated the US would give countries time to comply before imposing secondary sanctions.
Arbitrum deployed its ArbOS 61 'Elara' upgrade on August 20, introducing optional compliance screening tools that Orbit chain owners can control on their dedicated networks. The upgrade affects both Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova, though priority fees remain disabled on Arbitrum One pending further governance votes.
South Korea's Cabinet approved regulations removing the 1 million won ($700) minimum threshold for crypto Travel Rule compliance, requiring information sharing for all virtual asset transfers between registered service providers regardless of amount. The revision also mandates disclosure of major shareholder information for VASP registration applicants.
The Treasury Department sanctioned two Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges, Shelbit and Aban Tether, for facilitating transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. TRM Labs reports Shelbit handled over $6.3 billion in transactions between May 2024 and March 2026.
The United States Treasury Department sanctioned two Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchanges, Shelbit and Aban Tether, alleging they processed billions of dollars in transactions for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and facilitated sanctions evasion. The action is part of the Trump administration's 'Economic Fury' campaign targeting Iranian financial networks.
Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission proposed draft amendments on August 4, 2026, requiring all domestic crypto platforms to share customer information on platform-to-platform transfers, with implementation scheduled for October 2026.
South Africa's National Treasury and Reserve Bank published draft guidelines on August 3, 2026, establishing the country's first comprehensive regulatory framework that defines when cross-border cryptocurrency movements become reportable events under financial regulations.
Dubai-based crypto exchange Shelbit processed over $4 billion since May 2024 through a network tied to Iranian gambling sites, the central bank, and the IRGC, according to Reuters investigations. At least $676 million was sent to Binance.
A Reuters investigation revealed that Shelbit, an unlicensed Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange, processed at least $4 billion for an Iranian sanctions-evasion network linked to the IRGC, Iran's central bank, and illegal gambling operations. At least $676 million from wallets connected to this network flowed to Binance.
The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on two Iranian maritime companies allegedly part of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-backed insurance network, with one firm accepting Bitcoin and other digital assets as payment.
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two Iranian maritime firms, including Hormuz Safe, for operating an IRGC-backed scheme that allegedly extorted commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz by requiring Bitcoin payments for insurance.
The European Union approved its 21st package of sanctions against Russia on July 23, 2026, imposing transaction bans on 14 cryptocurrency platforms and operators accused of helping Russia evade sanctions, including entities tied to the A7 Network. The package also targets 48 individuals and 170 organizations across energy, financial services, and shipping sectors.
The European Union approved its 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, 2026, imposing transaction bans on 14 cryptocurrency service platforms across six jurisdictions and blacklisting the A7 cross-border payments network and its A7A5 stablecoin for alleged sanctions evasion.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed five civil forfeiture lawsuits seeking to seize more than $25 million in cryptocurrency recovered from investigations into international fraud schemes, including fake investment platforms and romance scams that targeted victims in the United States and Canada.
Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs reports that cryptocurrency exchange HTX has been systematically rotating its hot wallets and deposit addresses across four blockchains since UK authorities imposed sanctions on the platform in May 2026, making sanctions enforcement more difficult.
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has set up a specialized cryptocurrency investigation unit within its National Command and Control Centre to investigate money laundering, terrorism financing, and other crimes involving digital assets. Officials said the unit will monitor suspicious crypto transactions and investigate crypto-linked cybercrime and financial fraud, while the FIA's counter-terrorism chief separately recommended that the cybercrime and anti-narcotics agencies establish similar units to address cybercrime and drug trafficking.
The United States Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned multiple cryptocurrency wallets tied to the Central Bank of Iran, freezing more than $130 million in digital assets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the action as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Iran's sanctions evasion activities.
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated four Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges—Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin, and Ramzinex—for sanctions violations and terrorist financing. Nobitex handled approximately 50% of Iran's crypto inflows in 2025, and four Iranian nationals including chairman Amir Hossein Rad were also named in the action.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday that the United States has seized approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency assets from Iran under 'Operation Economic Fury,' a pressure campaign aimed at restricting Iran's access to overseas revenue and financial infrastructure.
The UK government designated Huobi Global S.A. (operating HTX exchange advised by Justin Sun) and other crypto entities under its Russia sanctions regime, marking the first time crypto exchanges have been sanctioned under this framework for alleged sanctions evasion and ties to Russian financial networks.
Iran's state-backed 'Hormuz Safe' platform offers Bitcoin-settled maritime insurance for cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with the country projecting $10 billion in revenue. The service allows sanctioned shippers to pay premiums in cryptocurrency for instant digital coverage.
CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE parent) are urging U.S. regulators to increase oversight of decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, citing concerns over market manipulation and sanctions exposure. The move represents traditional exchanges seeking regulatory action against DeFi competitors.
The U.S. Treasury Department is pressuring Binance to implement stricter compliance measures following reports that over $1 billion in cryptocurrency transactions tied to Iranian entities moved through the exchange despite sanctions.
A New York court has ordered Arbitrum DAO to freeze $71 million in ETH connected to North Korean hackers, with terrorism creditors moving to seize the Kelp DAO funds ahead of a DeFi United vote. The case highlights compliance challenges for decentralized protocols.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced wallet seizures targeting Iranian actors, but blockchain analysis suggests the wallets' characteristics may indicate other state actors instead of Tehran.
Reuters found that Nobitex, Iran's leading crypto exchange, was founded by sons of an elite political family tied to Iran's supreme leaders, with hundreds of millions in transactions linked to sanctioned Iranian state entities moving through the platform since 2018.
Prediction market platform Polymarket engaged blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis to monitor trading activity in real-time for insider trading and market manipulation as it seeks $15 billion valuation and CFTC approval for U.S. relaunch.
The European Commission announced its largest sanctions package against Russia yet, escalating restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions as Russia increasingly relies on digital assets to circumvent existing sanctions. The measures target Russian crypto exchanges, stablecoin usage, and the country's central bank digital currency.
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran-linked cryptocurrency wallets containing $344 million in USDT that Tether had frozen following a law enforcement request. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the action is part of 'Economic Fury' efforts to choke off financial lifelines to the Iranian regime.
The European Union formally approved its 20th package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, targeting additional Russian banks, cryptocurrency operations, and trade restrictions. The package includes measures to cut sanctioned banks from SWIFT and further restrictions on financial services.
Russian crypto exchange Grinex halted trading services following a $13-15 million exploit that the exchange attributes to 'Western special services' or 'hostile states.' The exchange has been linked to sanctioned Garantex, with liquidity and users flowing between the platforms.
The U.S. Treasury Department issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on April 8 requiring payment stablecoin issuers to implement anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance measures for secondary market transactions. The proposal sets new standards for combating illicit finance in stablecoin markets.
Treasury's FinCEN and OFAC jointly proposed a rule on April 10, 2026, formally treating stablecoin issuers as financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act. Issuers must implement full AML/CFT programs with customer due diligence, suspicious activity reporting, and the technical capability to block or freeze illicit on-chain transactions, alongside mandatory OFAC sanctions screening.
On-chain investigator ZachXBT published 'Circle Files' alleging that Circle has inconsistently applied its freeze powers for USDC, with wallets blocked while stolen funds continued to move, raising questions about the stablecoin issuer's compliance enforcement.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT publicly accused stablecoin issuer Circle of failing to freeze over $420 million in illicit USDC funds across more than 15 cases since 2022, including the recent Drift Protocol exploit where $230+ million in stolen USDC flowed through Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) without being blocked.
The UK government has sanctioned Chinese-language crypto marketplace Xinbi for selling stolen personal data to fraudsters operating from scam compounds in Southeast Asia. The action targets financial infrastructure supporting organized fraud operations.
