• US sanctions goal UK crypto exchanges accused of facilitating Iran-linked monetary exercise.
  • Treasury alleges exchanges processed billions via USDT networks tied to the IRGC.
  • Motion types a part of broader crackdown on Iranian officers and sanctions evasion.

The US Treasury has sanctioned two UK-registered cryptocurrency exchanges, marking the primary time total digital asset platforms have been blacklisted below Iran-specific sanctions authorities. The Workplace of International Belongings Management introduced on Friday that Zedcex and Zedxion have been designated for allegedly processing transactions linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US officers stated the exchanges facilitated almost US$1 billion (AU$1.44 billion) in transactions tied to IRGC-linked counterparties, with a major share reportedly flowing via Tether’s USDT stablecoin on the Tron community. Treasury disclosures said that Zedcex alone processed greater than US$94 billion (AU$135.36 billion) in complete transactions since registering in August 2022.

The sanctions additionally focused Iranian financier Babak Morteza Zanjani, who US authorities describe as having beforehand embezzled billions of {dollars} in Iranian oil income. Treasury alleges that after his dying sentence was commuted in 2024, Zanjani resumed monetary actions supporting regime-linked initiatives and IRGC-associated networks.

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Digital Belongings Below Elevated Scrutiny

Blockchain intelligence agency TRM Labs reported that roughly 56% of the exchanges’ transaction quantity since 2023 was linked to IRGC-related entities. US officers stated this enforcement motion displays rising concern over the usage of digital belongings to bypass sanctions and transfer funds exterior conventional monetary programs.

The trade designations have been introduced alongside sanctions towards senior Iranian officers accused of overseeing violent crackdowns on protesters, together with Inside Minister Eskandar Momeni Kalagari and a number of IRGC commanders. The Treasury confirmed that greater than 875 Iranian-linked people, vessels and plane have been sanctioned throughout 2025 alone.

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The publish US Sanctions Blacklist UK Crypto Exchanges Over Iran-Linked Activity appeared first on Crypto News Australia.