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Iran’s Central Bank Purchases $500 Million in Digital Assets Amid Currency Crisis

Elliptic reports that Iran’s central bank purchased over $500 million in dollar-pegged digital assets to address a currency crisis and circumvent US sanctions, using local exchanges in 2025.

BTC

Summary

In 2025, Iran’s central bank purchased over $500 million in dollar-pegged digital assets, including Bitcoin and stablecoins, to manage its currency crisis and bypass US sanctions. Transactions took place in April and May via an Iranian crypto exchange amid diminishing foreign reserves and exclusion from SWIFT. The move underscores Iran’s increasing reliance on cryptocurrency amid ongoing financial pressure.

Terms & Concepts
  • Dollar-pegged digital assets: Cryptocurrencies or digital assets whose value is tied to the US dollar, often used as a stable store of value.
  • SWIFT exclusion: The removal of a country's access to the global payment network, SWIFT, which facilitates international financial transactions, often as a result of sanctions.