Tether, issuer of world largest stablecoin (USDT) has froze $344 million in USDT linked to Iran’s Central Bank. Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham Intelligence said it identified and deanonymized the wallets after the freeze, claiming the funds were tied to possible sanctions evasion as pressure on Iran continues to grow.
The move marks one of the biggest USDT freezes ever and a rare case where wallets linked to a government were publicly identified after the freeze.
Today, Arkham Intelligence publicly identified and labeled crypto wallets linked to the Central Bank of Iran on its platform, marking them as both “Suspicious” and “Government.”
The wallets reportedly held a combined portfolio worth over $344 million, including $344.211 million in frozen Tether, along with smaller amounts of HTX and TRX tokens.
The move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and increasing scrutiny of crypto transactions connected to sanctioned regions. Iran’s central bank has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018, with stricter counterterrorism-related sanctions added in 2020.
The freeze was the immediate action, but Arkham publicly labeling the wallet could have a much bigger long-term impact. Meanwhile, Tether works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies in 65 countries and has already helped freeze over $4.4 billion in assets.
So, now, exchanges, crypto platforms, and blockchain companies can clearly identify which wallet addresses are linked to the Central Bank of Iran. These labels stay attached to the wallets permanently, making it easier to track their activity across different platforms and transactions.
The move comes as regulators around the world are paying closer attention to stablecoins, international crypto transfers, and sanctions rules.
Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, centralized stablecoins like Tether can be controlled by their issuers, who have the power to freeze or block wallet addresses directly.
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