BlockBeats news: On January 16, amid ongoing domestic protests in Iran and a deepening economic crisis, Iranian citizens are accelerating the transfer of Bitcoin from exchanges to personal wallets to avoid inflation and financial control risks.
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis noted a significant increase in BTC transactions from Iranian domestic exchanges to unknown individual wallets between December 28, 2025, when protests erupted, and January 8, when Iran imposed an internet shutdown. This trend indicates that during times of unrest, people tend to prefer directly controlling their cryptocurrency assets.
The analysis suggests that this behavior is a rational response to the collapse of Iran's currency, the rial (IRR). Data shows that the rial's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar has plummeted from about 42 at the end of last year to over 1,050 this week, with its purchasing power nearly collapsing. Bitcoin, due to its decentralized nature, resistance to censorship, and cross-border transferability, is seen as a key tool for countering currency devaluation and political uncertainty, providing the public with "liquidity and choice."
Chainalysis also noted that this phenomenon aligns with global trends: during times of war, economic instability, or government pressure, people often turn to cryptocurrencies to protect their assets. Notably, Iranian official entities are also increasing their use of crypto assets. The report shows that wallets associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accounted for more than 50% of the total value received in Iranian crypto activity during the fourth quarter of 2025, with over $3 billion in on-chain transactions for the entire year (which may still be underestimated).