U.S. Adds Four Iranian Crypto Wallets to Sanctions, Tether Freezes $131 Million
On July 16, 2026, the U.S. Treasury added four cryptocurrency wallets associated with Iran's central bank to its sanctions list, prompting Tether to freeze $131 million in USDT. This move marks an extension of existing sanctions against Iran's central bank, which has been under U.S. restrictions since 2019, according to CoinDesk.
The U.S. Treasury Department added four wallets linked to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) to its sanctions list on July 16, 2026. Following this action, Tether froze $131 million in Tether tokens (USDT) that were held in these wallets. The sanctions specifically target TRON-based addresses, which had previously held over $165 million in stablecoins, and are now unable to transfer or redeem these funds.
This freeze contributes to a larger total of about $475 million in USDT linked to the CBI that has been blocked due to sanctions. The recent sanctions were implemented after tensions escalated, following a breakdown in a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of air and drone strikes. According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, these four wallets have received substantial transfers from institutional liquidity providers and payment processors based in Asia.
Tether's action aligns with the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to curb the financial practices of organizations tied to the Iranian government. A spokesperson from Tether stated, "Sanctioning the wallets provides clarity for exchanges, custodians, and compliance firms to monitor these addresses effectively." This proactive approach aims to prevent movement of funds that could support activities deemed threatening by U.S. authorities.
Furthermore, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) noted that its published lists of sanctioned wallets are not exhaustive, indicating that additional addresses controlled by the CBI may still be eligible for blocking. The escalation in sanctions follows OFAC’s June actions against Nobitex and other Iranian exchanges thought to be aiding the central bank’s stablecoin transactions.
The situation is evolving, and stakeholders in the crypto industry should monitor any further developments regarding sanctions and compliance measures. The stability of USDT as a widely used stablecoin could be impacted by ongoing geopolitical tensions and regulatory scrutiny.
Summary based on original reporting by Francisco Rodrigues at CoinDesk, originally published Jul 16, 2026. SolanaWire does not republish source content.
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