The use of cryptocurrency by Iran to transfer funds amid international sanctions pressure continues to increase. A recent report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis revealed that more than US$3 billion or around Rp51 trillion in cryptocurrency transactions in 2025 was related to networks associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
These findings were published in the 2026 Crypto Crime Report, which shows a significant spike in illegal cryptocurrency activity globally over the past year. Chainalysis noted that cryptocurrency addresses categorized as illegal received at least US$154 billion in digital assets throughout 2025. This figure increased by about 162 percent compared to the previous year.
Of that total, approximately US$104 billion comes from entities located in countries that are under international sanctions, including Iran, Russia, and North Korea.
Chainalysis explains that Iran is increasingly integrating the use of crypto into the country's financial strategy, especially to support various external activities amid growing economic and political pressure.
“Iran continues to incorporate crypto into its strategic priorities, including financing allied groups in the region, despite facing significant internal and external pressures,” wrote Chainalysis in the report.
