US Prepares to Seize Iran's $1 Billion Crypto Assets

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that approximately $1 billion worth of crypto assets linked to Iran could be seized this week. Speaking at the Newsmax NPolicy Summit in Washington, Bessent stated that the US's economic isolation campaign against Iran also encompasses the cryptocurrency market. "We will likely seize $1 billion in cryptocurrency this week. We know where they are and we are isolating them," he said. Bessent noted that the Trump administration's maximum pressure policy has been replaced by a more comprehensive isolation strategy. This strategy includes not only limiting Iran's access to financial resources but also a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, restrictions on international flights, and the closure of land connections. In recent months, the US has conducted various operations targeting crypto transactions linked to Iran. In May 2026, Bessent announced that the US had seized approximately $1 billion worth of crypto assets linked to Iran. In July, the US Treasury Department announced that approximately $130 million in assets had been frozen as a result of sanctions against Iranian-linked crypto wallets. Additionally, sanctions have been imposed on seven cryptocurrency exchanges linked to Iran since June 2026.

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