18 Feb 2025

light mode

Iran imported goods paid in crypto to circumvent sanctions

Iran imported goods paid in crypto to circumvent sanctions

Iran’s Deputy Prime Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, Reza Fatemi Amin, confirmed in his tweet that they conducted the first deal to pay for imports using cryptocurrency.

The cost of the delivery was $10 million, which suggests its test nature. It is not reported precisely what cryptocurrency was used, but it was likely a CoinMarketCap top-ten stablecoin. The Iranian counterparty is also unknown. According to some reports, the deal may have been a grain transaction.

According to the Iranian official, at the end of September, they expect that “the use of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts will be widespread in foreign trade with partner countries.”

It would be fine, but the list of “partner countries” is strictly limited due to U.S. sanctions against Iran, which makes trade with this state very toxic. This nuance could reignite the discussion about the criminalization of anonymous cryptocurrency payments. And we have yet to exhale after the Tornado Cash story.

Iran, until recently, was the leader in the number of sanctions imposed on its economy, keeping the grim company to another two not completely sane nuclear warhead holders (North Korea and the Russian Federation). Venezuela, which is drowning in hyperinflation, has also experimented with circumventing sanctions by using cryptocurrencies.

If we look at things positively, we can see a clear trend: the maximum interest in cryptocurrencies can be seen in countries with weak or developing economies. These are not necessarily bully states. In fact, we can mention the “little ones” like El Salvador or the Central African Republic.

So, let’s not dig too deeply into the possible consequences of this story. Some Chinese sages said long ago that a barn without mice is no good. Because where there is development and expansion of the “barn”, there will always be “mice”. They will not disappear completely if you fight against them. They will disappear only when the barn becomes empty. And this is definitely not about the modern crypto world, the true potential of which isn’t even 5% unlocked.

Regulators will sooner or later find more flexible models for dealing with the inevitability represented by “crypto”. Or crypto will simply throw them into the dustbin of history. We can only believe in the genius of Satoshi Nakamoto and that for every conditional and sanctioned Iran in the cryptocurrency market, there will be their own Black Rock with PayPal as a counterbalance. 

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
Lawmaker Attacks Trump’s Meme Coin, Musk’s DOGE

Lawmaker Attacks Trump’s Meme Coin, Musk’s DOGE

Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has criticized the DOGE agency and Trump’s meme coin, arguing they represent a dangerous shift in financial oversight.

Anton Kryshtal
LIBRA Meme Coin Mystery—Is There a MELANIA Connection?

LIBRA Meme Coin Mystery—Is There a MELANIA Connection?

LIBRA’s sudden launch has left the crypto world divided. Was it just another meme coin stunt, or is there a real connection to Javier Milei? And what’s this about MELANIA? The plot thickens.

The Coinomist
Scammers Tricked Investors with a Fake Saudi Meme Coin

Scammers Tricked Investors with a Fake Saudi Meme Coin

Scammers impersonating Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on X claimed to launch an “official” KSA meme coin. Spoiler alert: It was a total scam.

Anton Kryshtal
Italy Moves to Rein In Crypto as EU, U.S. Rules Diverge

Italy Moves to Rein In Crypto as EU, U.S. Rules Diverge

The Bank of Italy, together with the Italian securities regulator Consob, met with industry leaders to discuss the evolving rules for digital assets.

Anton Kryshtal
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Jan 27, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Jan 27, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

Sometimes, Bitcoin transactions can get “stuck,” especially if a low fee was set. In such cases, you might wonder: Why is my Bitcoin transaction stuck?

bitOn
Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Cryptocurrency farms and mining have evolved significantly since Bitcoin launched in 2009. To understand their growth, it helps to look at the broader history of resource extraction.

The Coinomist
From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

Trump’s meme coin isn’t an outlier—it’s part of a broader trend. Back in 2021, celebrities were minting NFTs, and by 2024, they had moved on to personal token launches. The connection between fame and crypto has been growing for years, even if many failed to see it.

Vlad Vovk
Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

It happens when you check the market and crypto prices are up or down for no obvious reason. Then you do some research and find out that there are actually reasons outside the crypto space.

Anahit Avetisyan
How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

Fake news has become a global issue, shaping public opinion, fueling social tensions, and even influencing political decisions. With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation has accelerated, making it increasingly difficult to regulate. However, blockchain technology offers a promising solution in the fight against fake news.

Daryna Nesterenko
Trading Psychology: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Your Own Biases

Trading Psychology: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Your Own Biases

The most successful traders aren’t always the smartest. More often, those who excel are the ones who understand psychological traps, manage their emotions, and maintain rationality under pressure.

Vlad Vovk
The Bitcoin Kid’s 2011 Prediction – How Right Was He? 

The Bitcoin Kid’s 2011 Prediction – How Right Was He? 

In May 2011, an unusual video surfaced on YouTube. A 12-year-old boy explained Bitcoin – how it works and what its future might hold.

Anahit Avetisyan
SBF’s Prosecutor Quits – What It Means for Crypto Crime

SBF’s Prosecutor Quits – What It Means for Crypto Crime

Danielle Sassoon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has resigned, making headlines this week. And you’ve definitely heard of one of her biggest “client” names.

Anahit Avetisyan
MORE
«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

Matvii Diadkov, founder of Bitmedia, shared with us in an exclusive interview his expert insights on Web3 adoption, impact of GameFi and community-centering tendencies in the market.

The Coinomist
“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

The first crypto craze took place almost a decade ago. Overnight, many people found out about Bitcoin and its underlying technology, blockchain.

Lesia Dubenko
MORE