In 2025, Iran doesn't ban specific crypto exchanges by name-it blocks access through government controls and international sanctions. Tether froze millions in Iranian wallets, local exchanges are monitored, and stablecoin limits are strict. Here's how Iranians are still trading.
Read MoreTether Freeze Iran: What Happened and How It Affects Crypto
When Tether freeze Iran, the decision by Tether Ltd. to block USDT transactions tied to Iranian addresses. Also known as USDT sanctions, it was one of the first major moves by a stablecoin issuer to enforce geopolitical restrictions directly on blockchain users. This wasn’t just a technical update—it changed how people in sanctioned countries access global finance. Tether, the biggest stablecoin by market cap, holds itself out as a digital dollar. But when governments pressure it to act, it becomes a tool of financial control, not just a payment method.
Stablecoins like Tether USDT, a digital token pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. Also known as USDT, it is widely used for trading, remittances, and avoiding local currency collapse. are often the only way people in places like Iran, Russia, or Venezuela bypass capital controls. But they’re not immune to bank pressure. Tether’s parent company, Bitfinex, operates under U.S. jurisdiction and must follow OFAC rules. When Iran was hit with new sanctions, Tether didn’t wait for court orders—it proactively froze wallets. That’s a big deal because blockchain was supposed to be censorship-resistant. Now, even a token meant to be neutral can be turned off by a private company.
That’s why crypto sanctions, government-enforced restrictions on blockchain transactions targeting specific countries or entities. Also known as blockchain compliance, they’re becoming a standard feature of global finance. matter more than ever. If you’re in a country under sanctions, your wallet can be blocked without warning. You can’t appeal to a blockchain. You can’t ask a node to reverse it. It’s a centralized decision on a decentralized network. And it’s happening more often—not just with Tether, but with exchanges, wallets, and even DeFi protocols that integrate KYC checks.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real cases of how crypto is used under pressure: underground trading in Cambodia, Iraq’s mining ban, Singapore’s strict licensing rules, and how U.S. states handle crypto differently. These aren’t abstract theories—they’re lived realities. Some users rely on stablecoins to feed their families. Others use them to move money out of failing economies. And every time a company like Tether freezes a wallet, it reshapes who gets to play in this game—and who gets left out.