U.S. Plans to Seize Approximately $1 Billion in Crypto Assets This Week to Strike Iran

On October 10, Cointelegraph reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Thursday at the Newsmax Policy Summit that approximately $1 billion worth of cryptocurrency is expected to be seized this week. He noted that this action is part of a sanctions strategy targeting Iran, aimed at countering the nation's recent military conflict by severing financial networks, which began this past February.

Addressing related questions, Bessent emphasized, "We know where the assets are, and we are isolating them." Data indicates that U.S. authorities have consistently tightened economic sanctions against Iran. In a September report, stablecoin issuer Tether noted that it froze $550 million worth of USDT at the U.S. government's request in 2026, with $344 million frozen in April alone. Additionally, OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) announced a stringent crackdown in August of this year on cryptocurrency exchanges alleged to be aiding fund transfers to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.