Geopolitical drivers news in Iran

Persian files ISSN 2975-0598 Volume 30 Number 1
Author: Silvia Bolutok

Executive Summary

Iran’s approach to organizing cryptocurrencies has turned significantly in early 2025, with the government Release Guidance to supervise and control the encryption market. These measures came amid a large -scale power outage, concerns about illegal bitcoin mining, and the effect of continuous international sanctions.

The government moved towards greater supervision, and issued directives to organize encrypted currency markets while trying to control illegal mining activities.

Moreover, these efforts allow the government to prevent, among other matters, citizens from transferring large sums of capital without being taxed. In fact, the Central Bank ordered Iran (CBI) ending From RIAL Payment Payment Payment Poisoned. One of the main causes of CBI intervention is the ambiguity surrounding these exchanges. The volume of transactions from cryptocurrencies reached several billion dollars, while operators in this sector have not yet paid taxes, and their financial statements are still hidden and transparent.

The new list is also in line with Iran’s broader strategies to alleviate the effects of economic sanctions. However, tensions between organizational aspirations and economic necessity continue Energy crisesAsking questions about the long -term financial strategy.

This report holds the main developments in Iranian cryptocurrency policies, their effects on local and international actors, and the potential risks associated with these changes.

Information context

In January 2025, the Iranian government issued the encrypted currency market regulations. Crypting platforms can now be obtained direct payment gates within a regulatory framework, while all brokers must perform RIAL transactions transparently through the specific accounts approved by the Central Bank.

Iranian President Masoud Bezishian stated in A. letter To Muhammad Reda Farzin, the ruler of the Iranian Central Bank, that the Central Bank of Iraq is the only authority responsible for organizing the encrypted currency market (Ramzpol). This includes determining the conditions allowed to retain and exchange digital assets, in addition to being the exclusive entity for licensing, control, organizational frameworks, and issuing the necessary directives for both international and stable cryptocurrencies.

All participants in the cryptocurrency sector, including individuals, legal entities and companies, are subject to supervising the central bank. Their construction and activities are subject to a license from the bank.

In addition, The Central Bank of Iraq will have direct and unrestricted access to all the data, statistics and records related to the entities involved in encrypted currency activities.

In December 2024, Iran faced power outages in multiple areas, where the authorities blamed unauthorized bitcoin mining for the aggravation of energy lack. Officials confirmed that illegal mining operations have been discovered, which led to calls for judicial measures. Private sector representatives a report The damage caused by the power outage amounted to $ 20 billion.

Iran has clarified the coded currency mining in 2018, but it restricted or banned it, especially during the peak of energy demand. Licensing mining operations face a high tariff, which leads to wide underground mining. The government has motivated citizens to report unauthorized operations.

In 2018, the central authority also proposed a national cryptocurrency to facilitate international trade. In January 2023, the Central Bank of Iraq stated that the bladder had exceeded its experimental phase. CBDC (Central Bank of the Bank) entered the experimental phase in early March 2023.

Starting in January 2025, CBI, through the application programming interface (the government -controlled application programming interface, has resumed FIAT transactions to Crypto, which increased the supervision of the state from the exchange of digital assets.

Iranian exchanges to treat Nearly $ 3 billion in encryption transactions in 2022With Iranian Nobitex deals with 87 % of the size. The government also worked with Russia on the gold -bound backed Stablecooin.

However, Iranian energy infrastructure remains fragile due to elderly power plants, mismanagement, and international sanctions. The authorities continue to close schools and government offices to maintain energy, while lack of fuel increases local difficulties.

Iran’s Rial fell 37 % against the dollar in 2024, which prompted citizens to digital assets as a hedge against inflation. In response, the government closed the channels of suddenly driving cryptocurrencies in early January 2025, restricting civil access to alternative financial tools. In 2024, Iran was already to stop All online currency transactions between the Iranian cryptocurrency and RIAL, due to concerns about inflationary pressures.

One of the main Causes The closure of the payment gates of the encrypted currency was cited to control the currency market and prevent speculation in the Tether market. The move coincided with the record increase of the US dollar, exceeding 800,000 Irr, which prompted many to consider it part of the efforts of the Iranian Central Bank to achieve stability in exchange rates.

Tether, as StableCoin Stablecoin the US dollar, has a great demand in Iran. Increased demand for the rope puts additional pressure on the exchange rate. CBI fears that high demand and exchange activities can contribute to more market instability.

The main factors behind organizing the new Iranian encryption

Many of the exchange of cryptocurrencies in Iran are not committed to financial transparency or the availability of accurate financial data. This has led to many challenges, including tax evasion (given the large size of transactions, the tax obligations are expected to be from the stock exchanges. However, the evidence that supports adoption on a large scale does not exist), and unauthorized exploitation of user’s money. (Reports indicate that some stock exchanges have used customer assets for liquidity or investments in other markets), and money laundering (the absence of accurate transactions records and the identities of the unknown buyer, creates a favorable environment for illegal financial activities).

Moreover, reports indicate that some of the facilitators, responsible for the immediate settlement of exchange transactions, have violated banking regulations. These violations include the creation of an illegal infrastructure for immediate settlements, the prediction of the rope market, the artificial price of its price, the lack of transparency of transactions and the use of unknown accounts.

The geopolitical scenario

• Local scenario: Iran faces severe economic challenges, including inflation, lack of power, and decreased public confidence in government financial institutions. The increasing interest in the encrypted currency reflects all the hedge against economic uncertainty and alternative to work. By implementing organizational measures, The Iranian government aims to balance the economic opportunities offered by Crypto with a more strict control of financial transactions, especially to prevent a capital flight. The RIAL Digital Project, which is expected to act as a state -backed electronic criticism, is essential to Tehran’s plan to digitize financial operations while maintaining strict supervision.
• Regional scenario: Iran is allegedly cooperating with Russia in gold -backed Stablecoin to facilitate international trade and circumvent sanctions. Regional energy dynamics play an important role in mining policies in the Islamic Republic. Despite the extensive energy resources, Iran is struggling with the local distributionWhile illegal encryption mining puts additional pressure on a already fragile system. The country’s legal framework on the coded currency may affect neighboring countries, especially those who seek to regulate digital financing without losing state control.
• International scenario. The United States and European countries closely monitor the activities of the Iranian cryptocurrency, especially in terms of being related to evading the unlawful sanctions and financial transactions. The participation of major Iranian banks in Blockchain (Kuknos and Borna) projects raises concerns about alternative financial systems that may facilitate the approved transactions. Tehran’s dependence on the currency of the Digital Central Bank is in line with global trends in digital financing, although its implementation is still directed towards strengthening state control rather than strengthening financial decentralization.

Conclusions

The Iranian government’s strategy towards the cryptocurrency reflects a broader attempt to harness digital financial tools while maintaining strict control. The simultaneous expansion of organizational control and restriction of decentralized transactions clarifies an attempt to integrate digital assets into the state -controlled financial system. but, Challenges such as lack of power, mining regulations, and the possibility of capital journey.

At the local level, the campaign on illegal mining operations reflects a continuous struggle to balance economic innovation with energy security concerns. The government is trying to control the currency market and prevent speculation, and avoid a lack of financial transparency in stock exchanges and violations by Misree.

Closing the stock exchange gates sparked widespread anxiety among users. The owners of the economic interest argue that, instead of controlling the currency market, this measure will exacerbate current problems and expand the underground markets. They urged the central bank to adopt a cooperative approach instead of confrontation.

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