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ZEC $1,227 US Plans $1 Billion Iran Crypto Seizure as Bessent Announces New Isolation Campaign
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington may seize about $1 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency this week as part of a wider isolation campaign.
Key takeaways
- The target is $1 billion. Bessent said the US may seize about $1 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency this week.
- Iran's 2025 activity. Chainalysis estimated Iranian cryptocurrency activity exceeded $7.78 billion in 2025.
- IRGC share above 52%. Chainalysis said IRGC-linked wallets accounted for over 52% of Iran's crypto activity in the fourth quarter of 2025.
What happened
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington may seize about $1 billion in cryptocurrency linked to Iran this week. He spoke in an interview with Greta Van Susteren at the NPolicy Summit in Washington on Thursday. Bessent said authorities had identified the assets. He did not name the cryptocurrency, wallet addresses or financial institutions involved.
The Treasury Department has not officially announced that a seizure has been made. Bessent described the campaign as a shift from maximum pressure to what he called an absolute isolation campaign. He said it includes financial limits, maritime controls and restrictions on international travel. On October 8, the Treasury announced sanctions on 17 vessels accused of moving Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products as part of Operation Economic Outcast.
Why it matters
The plan would add to earlier US enforcement against Iran-linked crypto. In September, the Treasury sanctioned Iranian exchange BitBank over alleged Bitcoin transfers involving hundreds of millions of dollars. In July, authorities froze more than $130 million in Iran-linked digital assets, including USDT in several Tron wallets. Freezing restricts access to assets, while seizure means authorities take legal control of them.
The scale of Iran's crypto activity is large. Chainalysis estimated Iranian cryptocurrency activity exceeded $7.78 billion in 2025. The firm said IRGC-linked wallets accounted for over 52% of the country's crypto activity in the fourth quarter of that year, and it tracked more than $3 billion in transfers to those addresses during 2025. TRM Labs reported that over $3.84 billion moved between CoinEx and sanctioned Iranian entities over seven years.
What the data shows
Bessent put the planned seizure at about $1 billion in cryptocurrency linked to Iran. The Treasury had not confirmed that any additional $1 billion had been recovered. Bessent did not name the tokens or explain how authorities would take control of the holdings.
Background
The announcement follows renewed US-Iran tensions over a conflict that began on February 28, 2026, with an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel. On October 8, Trump said Washington would not launch another attack on Iran before the midterm elections in November.
Bessent said Washington was working with the United Arab Emirates and Oman while engaging Pakistan and Turkey. He claimed the campaign was creating pressure within the IRGC, but he provided no independent evidence for that assessment.
What is still unclear
- Bessent did not name the cryptocurrency or explain how authorities would take control of the holdings.
- He also did not give details about the wallets, exchanges or people connected to the planned action.
- The Treasury has not officially announced that a seizure has taken place.
Questions readers ask
How much Iran-linked crypto could the US seize?
Bessent said the US may seize about $1 billion in cryptocurrency linked to Iran this week. He said authorities had identified the assets, but the Treasury has not officially announced a seizure.
What did Chainalysis find about Iran's crypto activity?
Chainalysis estimated Iranian cryptocurrency activity exceeded $7.78 billion in 2025. It also said IRGC-linked wallets accounted for over 52% of the country's crypto activity in the fourth quarter and tracked more than $3 billion in transfers to those addresses during the year.
Has the US taken action against Iran-linked crypto before?
Yes. In September, the Treasury sanctioned Iranian exchange BitBank over alleged Bitcoin transfers involving hundreds of millions of dollars. In July, authorities froze more than $130 million in Iran-linked digital assets, including USDT in several Tron wallets.
What is Operation Economic Outcast?
It is a campaign launched by Washington in August to cut Iranian revenue. On October 8, the Treasury announced sanctions on 17 vessels accused of transporting Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products as part of the campaign.
Sources · 7 publishers
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US Plans $1 Billion Iran Crypto Seizure as Bessent Announces New Isolation Campaign -
U.S. Plans to Seize Another $1B in Iran-Linked Crypto, Bessent Says
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US targets $1 billion Iran-linked crypto seizure, Bessent says ‘we know where it is’ -
US Targets $1 Billion in Crypto Assets in Economic Crackdown on Iran -
US plans to seize $1B in crypto linked to Iran this week: Scott Bessent
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US eyes $1 billion Iran-linked crypto seizure, Bessent says -
US Treasury Plans $1 Billion Iran Crypto Seizure This Week
