Iran

Iran

Finance

Iran crisis puts the regime's $7.8 billion crypto shadow economy in spotlight

The government relies on this crypto infrastructure for international trade, while ordinary Iranians use it as a financial lifeline during protests and economic crises.

Map of Iran with a pin just north of Esfahan. (Tudoran Andrei/Shutterstock)

Markets

Crypto community fear of Iran choking oil supply and crashing markets may be overblown

A full closure of the strait is unlikely or impractical, some experts argue.

Shipping vessel at sea (Getty Images/Unsplash+/Modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Suspected insiders make over $1.2 million on Polymarket by betting on U.S.'s Iran strike

The strikes caused bitcoin’s price to fall and oil futures on Hyperliquid to rise over the regional conflict’s consequences.

(Photo by hosein charbaghi on Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk)

Videos

U.S. Senator probes into Binance over alleged $1.7B Iran ties

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has opened an investigation into Binance following reports that $1.7 billion was transferred to Iran-linked organizations. Binance denies the claims, but is the world's largest exchange in trouble again given sanctions violations in the past? CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie hosts "CoinDesk Daily."

U.S. Senator probes into Binance over alleged $1.7B Iran ties

Videos

Bitcoin plunges to $78K amid extreme fear

Bitcoin has dropped near $78,000 after a week of turmoil. Analysts are blaming the selloff on war risks, liquidation cascades, and crash in safe haven assets like gold and silver. With the market sentiment stuck in "extreme fear", is the bull run officially over? CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie hosts "CoinDesk Daily."

CoinDesk

Policy

U.S. imposes sanctions on crypto exchanges tied to Iran for the first time

The exchanges were accused of facilitating transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and are linked to an Iranian businessman convicted of embezzlement.

(Photo by hosein charbaghi on Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk)

Finance

Iran’s central bank bought $507 million USDT to underpin rial, report finds

Elliptic traced more than $500 million in USDT tied to Iran’s central bank, suggesting the stablecoin was used to manage foreign-exchange pressures and build a “sanctions-proof” alternative to dollar banking.

Skyline of the Iranian capital, Tehran

Markets

Iranians stash bitcoin as protests rage and rial tanks

Amid protests and economic crisis, Iranians are increasingly withdrawing bitcoin from exchanges to personal wallets.

Tehran from above. (mohammadshahhosseini/Pixabay)

Markets

Bitcoin at risk of dropping under $96,000 as U.S.-Iran rhetoric pressures risk assets

Total crypto market value jumped toward $3.25 trillion before gains cooled, with bitcoin steady above $96,000 and mixed performance across majors.

Tehran (Fatmeh Montaz/Unsplash)

Markets

New Polymarket bettor places $40,000 on U.S. striking Iran tonight

One trader went against the current trend of low chances for a strike tonight by placing the new $40,000 bet.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaylee Dubois)