Iran
OFAC Designates Iranian-Linked Crypto Exchanges in First-Ever Action Targeting Digital Asset Firms in Iran’s Financial Sector
TL;DR OFAC designated two UK-registered crypto exchanges, Zedcex and Zedxion, for operating in Iran’s financial sector and processing cryptocurrency transactions…
Inside Iran’s Growing $7.8 Billion Crypto Ecosystem: IRGC Dominance and a Flight to Bitcoin Reflect Geopolitical Tensions and Domestic Unrest
TL;DR Iran’s crypto ecosystem reached over $7.78 billion in 2025, having grown at a faster pace for most of the…
MENA’s Divergent Crypto Paths: From Crisis to Innovation in 2025
This post is an excerpt from our 2025 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report. Download the full report now! Note on our…
OFAC Targets $600 Million Iranian Shadow Banking Network Using Cryptocurrency to Evade Sanctions
TL;DR OFAC designated Iranian financial facilitators and their network of front companies for coordinating cryptocurrency transactions that benefit the Islamic…
Nobitex, Sanctions, and The $90 Million Exploit: A Window into Iran’s Largest Crypto Exchange
On June 18, 2025, Iranian cryptocurrency platform, Nobitex, was exploited, resulting in the loss of more than $90 million in…
The Truth Behind Crypto, Sanctions and Illicit Finance: Podcast Ep. 160
Conflict diamonds, sanctions evasion and the evolution of organized crime in digital assets. In this episode we cover all that…
OFAC Sanctions Iran-Backed Houthi Network for Facilitating Weapons Procurement from Russia via Cryptocurrency
On April 2, 2025, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a network…
Crypto’s Role in Global Sanctions and Trade: Podcast Ep. 154
Welcome to season 3 of the Public Key podcast! New Season, New Hosts, New Look. Have you heard terms like…
OFAC Designates Iran-based Darknet Marketplace Administrator with 49 Cryptocurrency Addresses for Facilitating Fentanyl Sales
Today, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Iran-based Behrouz Parsarad, the administrator…
The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report Preview (Part 1): Podcast Ep. 151
Welcome to season 3 of the Public Key podcast! New Season, New Hosts, New Look. The Crypto Crime Report is…
Iranians Flock to Crypto Amidst Geopolitical Tension; International Sanctions Actions Disrupt Russia’s War Machine
In 2024, sanctions shifted in both scope and strategy, reflecting a broader evolution in illicit on-chain activity in response to…
35% Year-over-Year Decrease in Ransomware Payments, Less than Half of Recorded Incidents Resulted in Victim Payments
The ransomware landscape experienced significant changes in 2024, with cryptocurrency continuing to play a central role in extortion. However, the…
Crypto’s Role in Modern Geopolitical Chess: Podcast Ep. 144
Welcome to Season 3 of the Public Key podcast! New Season, New Hosts, New Look. And in the first episode…
Cryptocurrency in the War Zone: A Closer Look at Recent Events in Syria
Last weekend, the Assad regime — which ruled Syria for over five decades and had been embroiled in a 13-year…
Chainalysis In Action: Israeli Authorities Disrupt Hezbollah and Iran Quds Force Terrorism Financing Crypto Infrastructure, Seize $1.7 Million in First [Updated 3/26/24]
Update, 3/26/24: OFAC sanctions Al-Law, highlights cryptocurrency address previously identified by NBCTF On March 26, 2024, OFAC sanctioned Syria-based hawala…