US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Friday at the Reagan National Economic Forum that approximately $1 billion in Iranian crypto assets had been seized. According to Bessent, some wallet owners may not yet realize their funds are gone. "We have taken direct control of their crypto wallets. Some may be trying to log in right now and may not yet understand that their wallets have been seized," he added. This is reported by Cointelegraph.com .
This seizure was carried out as part of "Operation Economic Fury," a US initiative aimed at exerting financial pressure on Iran. Launched in March 2025, the operation targets Iranian assets through several channels: seizing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, freezing bank accounts, and seizing real estate in cooperation with European allies.
Scott Bessent noted that the Iranian economy is currently in dire straits. The country is facing inflation exceeding 200%, food vouchers are being distributed, and the internet has been shut down. It is also reported that 40-50% of Iranian troops are not receiving salaries. According to the Treasury Secretary, prior to US intervention, the regime was siphoning off $400-500 million per month, distributing these funds among approximately 80 officials.
The newly announced figure of $1 billion is double the $500 million reported at the end of April. Meanwhile, Iran is planning to introduce a Bitcoin-based insurance model by controlling the Strait of Hormuz. The platform, dubbed "Hormuz Safe," intends to sell digital maritime insurance in Bitcoin and settle payments via blockchain, which is estimated to generate over $10 billion in revenue for the country.
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