Skip to main content

$1 Billion In Iranian Crypto Seized By US, Treasury Secretary Says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently revealed that the United States has seized $1 billion worth of crypto assets tied to the Iranian government. This figure has continued to rise amid the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

Operation Economic Fury Sends Iran Into Crisis: US Treasury Secretary

Earlier in the month, Bessent disclosed that the US government had confiscated $500 million in Iranian crypto assets. On Friday, May 29th, barely a month later, Bessent announced at the Reagan National Economic Forum that this figure has now climbed above the $1 billion mark.

These crypto seizures form part of a broader strategy named “Operation Economic Fury,” which, according to Bessent, has squeezed the Iranian government into an economic crisis. The campaign, launched in April 2026, was said to be targeting Iran’s illegal oil smuggling networks, shadow financing, and “regional maritime extortion” around the Strait of Hormuz.

Bessent said at the conference:

I think between five and a half-six weeks of an incredibly successful military campaign, and then Operation Economic Fury, where we have really cut them off. And they are at the end of their tether now financially. I think 40 or 50% of the [Iranian] troops aren’t getting paid. Police aren’t reporting to the station. Inflation is probably over 200%. They’re having to give out food vouchers. They have turned off the internet.

According to the Treasury Secretary, their efforts have been aided by allies in Europe, who have helped with the seizure of villas and other properties believed to have been funded by money stolen from the Iranian people. Bessent revealed that the Iranian regime was stealing $400 to $500 million — shared among a group of leaders — every month.

This revelation comes after news that the United States and Iran have drafted a framework to extend their ceasefire by 60 more days, with the agreement awaiting US President Donald Trump’s approval. Despite Trump’s meeting with his national security team on Friday and claiming a “final determination” on Iran, recent reports suggest that the meeting ended without a final decision on a new deal.

One of the major talking points still holding up the agreement is the uncertainties around unfreezing the seized Iranian funds, including the crypto assets. While there is no suggestion that this would be the case for the seized Iranian digital assets, it is worth mentioning that Bessent had hinted at using seized crypto (specifically) to build up its strategic reserve rather than buying.

Crypto Market Cap Overview

As of this writing, the total cryptocurrency market cap stands at around $2.45 trillion, reflecting a 0.24% jump in the past 24 hours.

Crypto



from Bitcoinist.com https://ift.tt/HWMPIiy

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Bitcoin Goes Official: Texas Becomes 1st US State With BTC Reserve

Everything is big in Texas, many would say. Today, the state is looking past its current state of finances by adding Bitcoin to its coffers–and making things bigger in terms of its economic implications. Texas became the first US state to establish a crypto reserve . On March 7, 2025, legislators passed Senate Bill 21, which gives the green light to the state to direct public funds toward Bitcoin and other digital assets. The action has elicited both support and concern, with some viewing it as a prudent financial hedge and others warning of potential pitfalls. A Push For Bitcoin In The Lone Star State For months, Texas has been seeing increasing favor for the idea of a Bitcoin reserve. Senator Charles Schwertner introduced SB 778, a measure that proposes establishing a strategic stockpile. Including the top crypto asset into the state’s financial reserves was meant to help cushion inflation and economic uncertainty. Texas officials, especially Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, wh...

Liczba milionerów kryptowalutowych wzrosła o 40%. Rynek przekracza 3,3 biliona dolarów

Rozwój rynku kryptowalut widać również bo liczbie osób, których portfel kryptowalutowy przekroczył milion dolarów. Według najnowszego raportu Henley & Partners, liczba inwestorów posiadających majątek przekraczający milion dolarów w cyfrowych aktywach wzrosła o 40% w ciągu ostatniego roku. Aktualnie na świecie jest już 241 700 milionerów, jeśli chodzi o waluty cyfrowe. Wzrost ten zbiegł się z historycznym momentem, gdyż w połowie 2025 roku kapitalizacja całego rynku kryptowalut przekroczyła 3,3 biliona dolarów . Bitcoin wciąż liderem wzrostów Największy udział w tworzeniu nowych fortun ma niezmiennie Bitcoin. Liczba posiadaczy portfeli BTC, których wartość przekracza milion dolarów, wzrosła aż o 70% rok do roku i wynosi dziś 145 100 . Jeszcze bardziej imponująco wygląda grupa tzw. Centymilionerów, czyli inwestorów posiadających ponad 100 milionów dolarów w Bitcoinie. Ich liczba wzrosła o 63% , osiągając poziom 254 osób. Co więcej, liczba miliarderów BTC podskoczyła do 17, notu...

Slow And Steady Wins? Bitcoin To Hit $1M Via ‘Pump’ And ‘Consolidate’ Pattern: Expert

The bull cycle was deemed over when the price of Bitcoin tragically fell toward $75,000 earlier in March 2025. Having notched an all-time high of above $100,000, most investors feared that the premier cryptocurrency had already reached its top for the current cycle. Contrary to popular belief, the price of Bitcoin has since forged multiple new all-time highs, with the current record high at around $122,800. Interestingly, the now-popular market consensus is that it is only a matter of time before the BTC price reaches a seven-figure valuation. How Will Bitcoin Hit $1 Million In 10 Years? In a recent post on the X platform, Blockware Bitcoin analyst Mitchell Askew has joined a growing list of experts to put forward a $1 million projection for the premier cryptocurrency. According to the analyst, the price of BTC is expected to achieve this major milestone over the next 10 years. What’s interesting is that Askew expects the Bitcoin price to reach a $1 million valuation in the next ...