U.S. Sanctions Nobitex and Founders Over $100 Million-Plus Iran Crypto Flows
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 2
U.S. Sanctions Nobitex and Founders Over $100 Million-Plus Iran Crypto Flows
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 2
Treasury on Tuesday blacklisted Nobitex—Iran’s largest crypto exchange—and some founders, saying the platform helped Tehran evade sanctions, fund militant activity and move wealth abroad.
Nobitex provided “significant support” to Iran’s government before and during the war, Treasury said, including facilitating transfers tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and proxy militias.
Scott Bessent said Iran had co-opted digital assets for a “corrupt agenda” even as its economy remains in free fall; Nobitex could not immediately be reached for comment.
The move adds economic pressure as U.S.-Iran peace talks appear stalled, with Marco Rubio saying an interim deal could come “today,” “tomorrow” or next week and Trump saying the outcome is uncertain.
With Iran's top crypto exchange now sanctioned, what is the next battleground in digital economic warfare?
As the US dismantles Iran's crypto networks, can Tehran's shadow economy outmaneuver 'Operation Economic Fury'?
Billions Laundered: U.S. Sanctions Nobitex and Iran’s Crypto Sector in Sweeping Crackdown
Overview
On June 2, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, along with other platforms and key individuals, as part of its broader 'Economic Fury' campaign and maximum pressure policy against Iran. The sanctions were driven by evidence that Nobitex assisted the Central Bank of Iran in accessing millions of dollars, enabled trading for individuals linked to the Iranian government, and helped transfer Iranian funds abroad during recent conflicts, even amid internet disruptions. These actions highlight the U.S. strategy to disrupt Iran’s financial networks by targeting crypto platforms involved in sanctions evasion.