Iranian Exporters Redirect Payments Using Crypto

Central Bank Opens Crypto Payments The Central Bank of Iran has effectively lifted restrictions on the use of USDT and Bitcoin for cross‑border transactions, aiming to simplify the process for exporters to repatriate foreign earnings.
Widespread Crypto Usage Exporters can now transfer their income directly to Iranian crypto exchanges using USDT and Bitcoin.
USDT, in particular, offers access to dollar value without the need for a dollar‑denominated bank account.
Transfers are typically routed through the TRON network because of its low transaction fees.
“The use of crypto for export payments has become completely normal,” said a manager of a state‑owned company.
However, no official central‑bank document confirms formal approval of crypto usage.
Economic Context The Iranian rial has lost more than 90% of its value since 2018 due to inflation and sanctions.
According to the head of the General Inspection Agency, Zabihullah Khodaiyan, over 20,000 individuals and companies have not repatriated 94 billion euros.
While this figure is based on a statement, it has not been independently verified.
US Sanctions and Their Impact On 24 August, the U.S.
Treasury declared the digital‑asset sector a sanctionable field.
OFAC added Iranian exchanges such as Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin and Ramzinex to its sanctions list.
Predictions from TRM Labs and Chainalysis estimate Iran’s crypto volume at $9.9 billion and $7.8 billion respectively for 2025—small figures relative to the country’s overall economy and trade needs.
Advantages of USDT Over Bitcoin USDT can be frozen at the exporter level, providing an advantage over Bitcoin.
For example, $344 million worth of USDT was frozen in two TRON addresses, while $131 million was frozen across four TRON wallets.
Future Uncertainty Until the Central Bank issues a formal regulation, the scope and permanence of crypto usage remain uncertain.
This lack of clarity limits legal certainty for exporters and makes it difficult to predict the long‑term effects of crypto flows.