Israel Seeks to Seize $1.5 Billion in USDT Allegedly Tied to Iran's IRGC
Israel identified 187 crypto addresses linked to Iran’s IRGC, with Tether freezing 39, amid global efforts to curb illicit stablecoin flows supporting sanctioned groups.
Israel’s National Bureau for Counter-Terror Financing flagged 187 cryptocurrency addresses allegedly tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which collectively received $1.5 billion in Tether (USDT). Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic stated that while these wallets were involved, some may belong to exchanges or shared services. Tether froze 39 addresses, blocking about $1.5 million in USDT. The U.S. Justice Department recently seized $600,000 from an Iranian national aiding IRGC drone projects. Previous U.S. Treasury sanctions in December 2024 targeted wallets linked to $300 million in stablecoin transfers, while in June 2025 pro-Israel hackers stole $90 million from Iranian exchange Nobitex, linked to IRGC-related operations.
- USDT (Tether): A widely-used stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, enabling digital transactions with a stable value. Tether can freeze addresses engaged in illicit activities.
- Blockchain Analytics: The process of inspecting, identifying, and analyzing blockchain data to trace transactions and uncover illicit activities.