Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic identified wallets linked to the Central Bank of Iran that accumulated more than $500 million in USDT, the largest dollar-pegged stablecoin.
The majority of purchases occurred in spring 2025, according to on-chain data analysis.
Initially, USDT was transferred to the local exchange Nobitex to inject dollar liquidity into the domestic market.
After a major security incident affecting the exchange, transaction patterns shifted toward DEXs and cross-chain bridges, primarily via TRON and Ethereum.
Iran has long faced restricted access to the global financial system due to sanctions. In this environment, stablecoins are increasingly used as a parallel financial instrument:
Rial stabilization: USDT provides indirect access to dollar liquidity outside traditional banking rails.
Foreign trade settlements: Stablecoins enable faster and less constrained international payments.
Sanctions pressure: These flows raise regulatory and compliance concerns for global financial watchdogs.
This case highlights a structural change in how stablecoins are used. What was once a trader’s tool is now being adopted at the sovereign-level financial strategy layer.
Digital dollars are emerging as alternative reserve instruments for sanctioned economies.
Blockchain transparency allows tracking, but also exposes the limits of current enforcement frameworks.
Institutional-scale usage could accelerate stricter oversight of the stablecoin sector globally.
The Central Bank of Iran’s stablecoin accumulation is not a short-term workaround — it is a stress test for the global financial system. As geopolitical risks grow, crypto assets are increasingly embedded into state-level liquidity management, forcing regulators and markets to adapt.
Do you believe stablecoins will become a standard tool for central banks in the next five years?
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