US Expands Iran Sanctions to Include Crypto Exchanges

Crypto News Regulation

US Treasury Expands Iran Sanctions to Digital Assets for the First Time

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: February 02, 2026

Key Takeaways

The US sanctioned Iran-linked crypto exchanges for the first time by expanding measures under its Iran sanctions program;
OFAC targeted Iranian officials and networks accused of protest crackdowns and using crypto to evade global restrictions;
UK-registered Zedcex and Zedxion were linked to businessman Babak Zanjani, with $94 billion in IRGC-related transactions since 2022.

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US Treasury Expands Iran Sanctions to Digital Assets for the First Time

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The United States has expanded its sanctions on Iran by including cryptocurrency exchanges for the first time.

On January 30, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new restrictions targeting Iranian officials and financial networks accused of suppressing protests and using alternative financial systems to evade global sanctions.

The sanctions include individuals and organizations connected to Iran’s security forces. According to OFAC, these groups have been involved in violent crackdowns, forced burials, and intimidation campaigns against citizens.

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Part of the announcement involves two crypto exchanges: Zedcex Exchange Ltd. and Zedxion Exchange Ltd. Both are registered in the United Kingdom and linked to Iranian businessman Babak Morteza Zanjani.

The Treasury stated that Zedcex alone processed over $94 billion in transactions since 2022, with many linked to entities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Zanjani was previously convicted of embezzling billions in oil revenue from Iran’s national oil company. The Treasury said he was later released and used by the government to move and clean funds.

Another official targeted by the sanctions is Eskandar Momeni Kalagari, Iran’s interior minister, who oversees the country’s Law Enforcement Forces.

The Treasury said, “This marks OFAC’s first designation of a digital asset exchange for operating in the financial sector of the Iranian economy".

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