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FIGR_HELOC $1.06Tether Freezes $550M Iran-Linked USDT, Total Freezes Hit $4.9B
Stablecoin issuer Tether confirmed it froze nearly $550 million in Iran-tied USDT in 2026, bringing its total global freeze value to $4.9 billion.
The short answer
Tether announced on September 28, 2026 that it froze roughly $550 million in USDT linked to Iran's Central Bank and sanctioned networks in 2026, per U.S. law enforcement and Treasury guidance. The total value of USDT frozen globally through Tether's law enforcement cooperation now exceeds $4.9 billion, the company said.
What happened
On September 28, 2026, stablecoin issuer Tether announced it had frozen nearly $550 million in USDT linked to Iran's Central Bank and other sanctioned networks during the year, acting on information provided by U.S. law enforcement and the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The largest single action tied to the effort took place in April 2026, when more than $344 million in USDT was blocked across two TRON wallets, OFAC added those addresses to its Central Bank of Iran sanctions list the following day. A second round of freezes in July 2026 locked more than $130 million across four additional TRON wallets, after Treasury formally designated those addresses as connected to the central bank.
Why it matters
The disclosure highlights the increasing role stablecoins play in global sanctions enforcement, as governments expand efforts to target digital asset use in illicit finance and sanctions evasion. Tether's announcement also reinforces that public blockchain transparency lets authorities track fund flows in ways not possible with cash, a point noted by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino in his September 28 statement. The $550 million in Iran-linked freezes is part of a broader cooperation record: Tether says it works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies across 67 countries, and its total global freeze value now exceeds $4.9 billion, including over $2.4 billion tied to U.S. authorities.
What is still unclear
- Tether did not provide a full itemization of all freezes included in the $550 million Iran-linked total, only disclosing the amounts for the April and July actions.
Questions readers ask
How much USDT has Tether frozen linked to Iran in 2026?
Tether confirmed it froze nearly $550 million in Iran-linked USDT in 2026. More than $344 million was frozen in April across two TRON wallets, and over $130 million was frozen in July across four additional TRON wallets.
What is the total value of USDT Tether has frozen globally?
Tether says its law enforcement cooperation has led to more than $4.9 billion in USDT frozen globally, including over $2.4 billion tied to U.S. authorities.
How does Tether decide to freeze USDT?
Tether aligns its freeze policy with OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals list, and acts when U.S. or international law enforcement provides credible information about suspected illicit activity at specific wallet addresses.
