Iranian companies are permitted to use USDT and Bitcoin for cross-border transactions.

ChainCatcher report: Iran is gradually relaxing foreign exchange controls and tacitly permitting businesses to use Tether (USDT) and Bitcoin for cross-border transactions. According to insiders, Iran’s central bank has encouraged businesses over the past few months to repatriate overseas funds through local cryptocurrency exchanges and other means, allowing firms to exchange foreign currency on open markets and directly use export revenues to import goods. A corporate executive close to the Iranian regime stated that the central bank currently does not inquire into the methods of fund transfers, and using cryptocurrencies to receive export payments has become standard practice. Data shows that approximately $10 billion in cryptocurrency flowed through Iran in 2025; blockchain analytics firm Elliptic estimates that Iran accounts for about 4.5% of global Bitcoin mining activity. Over $100 billion in unreported overseas and domestic earnings remain undeclared within Iran, and more than 20,000 individuals and businesses have failed to repatriate approximately €94 billion in export revenues. Tether previously froze approximately $344 million in wallet assets linked to Iran’s central bank, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury has warned that engaging in digital asset transactions with Iran may carry sanctions risk.