Iran eases currency rules to let exporters use crypto amid US sanctions

Iran relaxes currency rules to let exporters use crypto

Iran’s central bank has changed its foreign‑currency rules so that exporters can fund imports directly with earnings earned abroad, using digital assets such as Tether’s USDT stablecoin and Bitcoin. The move is intended to help businesses bring overseas money back into the country despite tightening U.S. sanctions.

Key points

• Exporters may now use foreign earnings without first selling them at the official exchange rate.
• USDT and Bitcoin can be used for cross‑border payments through Iranian crypto exchanges.
• The Financial Times reported the policy change on Sept. 9, 2026.
• Iran’s central bank did not comment on the report.
• Earlier, U.S. authorities froze more than $130 million of crypto linked to Iran’s central bank.

Financial Times report

The Financial Times says the new rule allows businesses to settle import payments with overseas earnings using USDT or Bitcoin on domestic exchanges, bypassing the need to convert foreign currency at the government‑run platform.

Earlier crypto flows and sanctions

Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs previously reported that over $3.8 billion moved between the exchange CoinEx and sanctioned Iranian entities over seven years. CoinEx denied any commercial relationship with the Iranian government. In early June, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned four Iranian crypto exchanges as part of its “Economic Fury” campaign, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States had seized about $1 billion in Iranian crypto assets.

Confirmed facts

• The central bank’s rule change was reported by the Financial Times on Sept. 9, 2026.
• Exporters can now use USDT and Bitcoin for import payments without first selling foreign currency at official rates.
• U.S. authorities have frozen more than $130 million in crypto linked to Iran’s central bank.

Uncertainties

• The exact implementation details of the new rule have not been disclosed.
• It is unclear how Iranian regulators will monitor or enforce crypto‑based transactions.

Why it matters

By allowing digital‑asset payments, Iran aims to keep foreign earnings inside the country despite sanctions that restrict traditional currency conversion. This could make crypto a more prominent tool for trade in sanctioned economies.

Next steps

No specific timeline for further policy adjustments was provided. Observers will likely watch how Iranian exchanges and exporters adopt the new system.

Sources

• Cointelegraph