The U.S. Treasury has seized about $500 million worth of Iran-related cryptocurrency, or about 782 billion won. CoinPost, a blockchain outlet, reported on Thursday that the move is part of the Trump administration’s Iran sanctions operation dubbed “Operation Economic Fury.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (스콧 베선트) appeared on a Fox Business program on April 29 and said the operation secured Iran-related cryptocurrency. The United States is focusing on cutting off funding sources for the Iranian regime and is speeding up the final stage of tougher sanctions.

The United States is also moving to seize Iran’s overseas assets. Bessent mentioned that Iran’s currency has fallen 60 to 70 percent against the dollar, putting it in a severe currency crisis. He also said the United States is carrying out a maritime blockade of the port on Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz and that oil shipments have effectively stopped.

Cooperation with private companies also continued. On April 24, Tether worked with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, to freeze $340 million, or about 550 billion won, in Tron-based USDT.

Iran has used digital assets to bypass existing financial sanctions. The Central Bank of Iran has operated complex concealment structures using digital assets to stabilise its currency and maintain international trade, and it has expanded the use of cryptocurrency for settling oil transactions.

Chainalysis said Iran’s cryptocurrency holdings stood at $7.8 billion as of 2025. About half of that was found to be managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The United States also reaffirmed its position that it will track all of Tehran’s funding routes. Bessent said the goal is to cut off the ability to fund proxy groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. He then warned buyers in various countries that Washington is ready to impose secondary sanctions on financial institutions and industries that tolerate trade in Iranian crude oil.

With talks between the two countries stalled, the United States is further tightening economic pressure on Iran. As sanctioned countries increasingly use digital assets to bypass banking systems, U.S. authorities are expanding monitoring systems together with private companies.