Tether on Iran: How $550 Million in USDT Was Frozen

Tether said it helped freeze approximately $550 million in USDT in 2026 linked to the Central Bank of Iran and sanctions networks as part of its work with U.S. authorities.

A September 28 statement reported by Wu Blockchain revealed the scale of transactions involving Iran-linked wallets. USDT issuer Tether said it was cooperating with U.S. law enforcement and sanctions authorities, highlighting freezes in April and July.

$344 million across two addresses linked to the central bank

In April, more than $344 million in USDT across two addresses was frozen. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) later added these addresses to its sanctions records as digital currency addresses belonging to the Central Bank of Iran.

In July, more than $130 million in USDT across four wallets was frozen. The total amount involved in Iran-linked actions during the year reached approximately $550 million.

Global freezes exceed $4.9 billion

According to data shared by Tether, the company works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies in 67 countries and has helped freeze more than $4.9 billion in assets worldwide.

The number of investigations the company has supported has exceeded 2,900, with U.S. law enforcement involved in more than 1,600 of them.