U.S. Seizes $1 Billion in Crypto Assets Linked to Iran

ChainCatcher report: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated at the 2026 Reagan National Economic Forum that, since the outbreak of conflict, the U.S. government has seized approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency assets linked to entities associated with Iran’s military. In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent said U.S. authorities “have direct control over these wallets,” and some asset holders may not even be aware their wallets have been taken over. The report notes that the U.S. has recently intensified its efforts to disrupt Iran-related financial networks. Previously, it was reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) promoted a maritime insurance platform accepting Bitcoin payments and planned to require tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees in Bitcoin to evade sanctions-related financial tracking and freezing. However, Bessent did not clarify whether this seizure was connected to the aforementioned Bitcoin payment scheme, nor did he disclose the specific composition of the seized assets. Additionally, according to prior allegations by Israeli officials, the IRGC received approximately $1.5 billion in USDT stablecoin funds; other reports indicate that recently, fraudsters have impersonated Iranian official institutions, demanding shipping companies make payments in Bitcoin and USDT.