sanctions

According to Cointelegraph, Kaitlin Martin, a senior intelligence analyst at Chainalysis, stated that shipping companies that may use cryptocurrency payments for transit fees to Iran could face serious sanction risks.Under the current sanctions framework, any payments made to the Iranian regime, including those related to key waterways, could be interpreted as "material support," putting companies at risk of violating U.S. and international restrictions.There have been previous reports that Iran may seek to collect transit fees in the form of cryptocurrency. Although not officially confirmed, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he would not accept any attempts by Tehran to impose tolls on shipping passing through this important waterway.

According to CoinDesk, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will jointly issue proposed rules requiring stablecoin issuers to establish a comprehensive anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance system. Specific measures include freezing, intercepting, and rejecting suspicious transactions, as well as complying with the relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act.The rules emphasize an outcome-oriented approach, believing that financial institutions understand their own risks best. Issuers that establish a sound compliance system are typically exempt from enforcement actions. This move aims to implement the GENIUS Act passed last year, which is expected to take full effect in 2027.

According to CoinDesk, the U.S. Treasury is set to release proposed rules requiring stablecoin issuers to establish standards to combat money laundering and sanctions violations.According to a summary of the proposal obtained by CoinDesk, the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will jointly formulate rules that clarify how issuers can comply with the GENIUS Act passed last year, including establishing controls to block, freeze, and reject suspicious transactions. FinCEN will require issuers' anti-money laundering programs to be able to pause flagged transactions and focus more resources on high-risk customers and activities.When U.S. authorities pursue specific targets, regulated issuers must screen their records for activities related to flagged individuals or entities. OFAC requires issuers to operate risk-based sanctions compliance safeguards in both primary and secondary markets, identifying and rejecting transactions that may violate U.S. sanctions regulations. The proposal emphasizes respect for the industry, believing that financial institutions are best aware of their own money laundering and terrorist financing risks, and companies that maintain appropriate anti-money laundering measures typically do not face enforcement actions.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these measures will protect the U.S. financial system from national security threats while not hindering the development of U.S. businesses in the stablecoin ecosystem. The proposal will enter a public comment period and may be revised before finalization.

According to Jinshi reports, Trump stated that the United States will work closely with Iran, and we have determined that Iran has undergone a highly effective regime change! Uranium enrichment activities will be prohibited, and the United States will cooperate with Iran to excavate and remove all deeply buried nuclear "dust" (dropped by B-2 bombers).Now and always, these areas have been under extremely strict satellite surveillance (the Space Force is responsible for monitoring). Since the day of the attack, everything has remained untouched. We are and will continue to discuss tariff and sanction relief matters with Iran. Many items in the 15 o'clock content have already been agreed upon.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Home Office jointly announced sanctions against the illegal cryptocurrency market Xinbi and individuals related to Southeast Asian scam networks. According to data from blockchain analysis company Chainalysis, Xinbi processed over $19.9 billion in transactions from 2021 to 2025, involving illegal activities such as money laundering, unlicensed over-the-counter trading, and the sale of stolen personal data. The UK is the first country in the world to impose sanctions on Xinbi.The sanctions also involve the operator of the Cambodian "#8 Park" scam base, Legend Innovation Co., and its head Eang Soklim, who is believed to be holding up to 20,000 trafficked workers. Meanwhile, multiple properties in London have been frozen, with previously seized assets including an office building valued at £100 million, two luxury homes, and a helicopter. UK officials stated that this action aims to cut off the financial infrastructure of the scam networks and will promote broader international coordinated cooperation at the illegal finance summit in June this year.

Mohsen Rezaei, the new military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, emphasized in an interview released by Iranian state television on March 23 that Iran will not stop the war until it receives all compensations, all economic sanctions are lifted, and it obtains international legal guarantees against U.S. interference in Iranian affairs.Rezaei also stressed that the dispute between Iran and the U.S. is not only about the current conflict or last year's attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, but has been ongoing for 47 years since the victory of the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979, and it must be "brought to an end."

According to the "News" report, the Central Bank of Russia has submitted a proposal to the government to allow digital financial assets (ЦФА) to circulate in open networks such as Ethereum, with a related legal draft planned to be released in the summer of 2026.This initiative aims to attract foreign capital from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America in the context of sanctions, and to promote cross-border settlements. The Russian ЦФА market has grown from 44 billion rubles to 1.5 trillion rubles over the past three years, but it is still primarily driven by domestic demand. Analysts expect that if the relevant regulations are implemented, the market size could reach 12 to 13 trillion rubles by 2030.

According to Cointelegraph, three Democratic senators from the United States have stated that they will oversee the Justice Department's alleged investigation into Binance for violating sanctions related to Iran. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego said in a joint statement that they will conduct oversight to ensure the Justice Department investigates Binance and holds it accountable for any wrongdoing.The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the Justice Department is investigating whether Iran may have used Binance to evade sanctions. The senators stated that Binance has a documented history of prioritizing profits over the law, raising serious concerns about the company potentially violating U.S. sanctions laws again and funding activities related to terrorist organizations linked to Iran. Binance previously responded that it was unaware of any investigation but has been cooperating with regulatory and law enforcement agencies to investigate the facts. Binance has filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a February article by The Wall Street Journal, claiming it constitutes defamation.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against 6 individuals and 2 entities, accusing them of participating in a fraud scheme orchestrated by North Korea involving IT workers, with proceeds used to fund North Korean weapons programs.The sanctioned entities include the North Korean company Amnokgang Technology Development Company and the Vietnamese company Quangvietdnbg International Services Company Limited, whose CEO Nguyen Quang Viet is accused of laundering $2.5 million for the network through cryptocurrency. Do Phi Khanh, Hoang Van Nguyen, Yun Song Guk, Hoang Minh Quang, and York Louis Celestino Herrera are also sanctioned for their alleged involvement in the network. The fraud network operates in North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Spain.The sanctions freeze all assets of the aforementioned individuals and entities in the U.S. and prohibit them from engaging in any financial transactions or business dealings with the United States. OFAC will also add 21 cryptocurrency addresses on the Ethereum and Tron networks to the sanctions list. Chainalysis stated that the North Korean IT worker fraud scheme relies on stolen identities and fabricated identity information to secure positions in global companies and may implant malware in company networks to steal sensitive information.

According to Cointelegraph, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global anti-money laundering regulatory body, has released a new report indicating that offshore virtual asset service providers (oVASP) pose risks of money laundering, sanctions evasion, and other illegal financial activities.The report points out that some offshore cryptocurrency companies exploit differences in regulatory and supervisory coverage, making it difficult for authorities to effectively monitor transactions and enforce anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing regulations. As many offshore crypto businesses operate across multiple jurisdictions, such as differing locations for company registration, infrastructure, and customers, regulators find it challenging to clarify regulatory responsibilities, which also limits international cooperation.FATF recommends that countries require offshore companies providing services to register or obtain licenses, even if they operate abroad, and strengthen cross-border regulatory and law enforcement cooperation. Additionally, FATF has previously warned that peer-to-peer stablecoin transactions and non-custodial wallets may undermine AML regulation, necessitating national-level risk assessments and the establishment of protective mechanisms.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Iran's use of Binance to evade sanctions, focusing on funds flowing through the platform to support terrorist networks.Insiders revealed that this investigation stems from an internal probe by Binance regarding over $1 billion in Iranian-related funds.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating how Iran is using the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, to evade U.S. sanctions.The report cites company documents and sources familiar with the matter, stating that an internal investigation at Binance into over $1 billion in suspicious fund flows was halted. These funds were funneled through the platform to a network that finances Iran-backed terrorist organizations, including the Houthi movement in Yemen. The investigation focuses on the flow of the relevant funds on Binance and its compliance risks.

Trump said at a press conference on Monday that the United States will temporarily lift some oil-related sanctions to ensure adequate oil supply and lower oil prices. Trump also stated that the increase in oil prices has not reached the level of severity he was concerned about.Trump said, "We have imposed sanctions on some countries. We will lift these sanctions before navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is restored." However, he did not provide specific details. Last week, the United States issued a 30-day temporary waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil currently stranded at sea to India, in an effort to ease pressure on the global oil market.

According to CoinDesk, Chainalysis' latest report shows that in 2025, cryptocurrency-related illegal activities linked to sanctions surged, with sanctioned entities receiving at least $104 billion in cryptocurrency, a 700% increase from 2024, driving the total illegal on-chain transaction volume for the year to $154 billion.Countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which are under U.S. and European sanctions, are integrating cryptocurrency into their national financial strategies to circumvent the traditional banking system. The report specifically notes that the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5 is a primary channel for sanctioned Russian enterprises, processing $93.3 billion in transactions in less than a year, serving as a settlement avenue for cross-border trade by sanctioned Russian companies.This token is associated with the exchanges Grinex and Meer, having processed billions of dollars in transactions before being sanctioned by the U.S. and Europe. A7A5 also offers "instant exchange" services, allowing tokens to be converted into mainstream U.S. dollar stablecoins with minimal KYC checks, having processed over $2.2 billion in transactions to date, effectively enabling sanctioned entities to enter the broader crypto economy.Addresses linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran account for over 50% of the value received by Iranian services, transferring over $3 billion in funds. North Korea remains the largest actor in cyber theft, stealing over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025. Stablecoins currently account for about 84% of illegal transaction volume.

During an interview, President Trump stated that if necessary, the U.S. military intends to sustain attacks on Iran for "four to five weeks," and insisted that Israel and the U.S. "will not have difficulty" maintaining combat intensity, while also warning that there may be more casualties among U.S. troops.When asked about the power transition plan, Mr. Trump expressed his hope that Iran's elite forces (including senior officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who have significant influence and profit from the current regime) could hand over weapons to the Iranian people. In a call lasting about six minutes, Trump also mentioned that he has three "very good" candidates to lead Iran, but he refused to disclose the specific names.He repeatedly referred to his experiences in Venezuela, which may suggest he believes that effective methods used in Venezuela could also apply to Iran. He also stated that he would be willing to lift sanctions on Iran if the new leadership shows a pragmatic and cooperative attitude. However, he simultaneously declined to clarify how (or whether) his administration would defend the Iranian people, whom he claims should overthrow the current government.

Eleven U.S. senators have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pamela Bondi, requesting a comprehensive review of Binance's compliance with U.S. sanctions and anti-money laundering requirements, as well as an assessment of its adherence to the 2023 settlement agreement.The letter cites reports indicating that approximately $1.7 billion in digital assets flowed through Binance to entities linked to Iranian terrorism, including organizations associated with the Houthis and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Investigators also found that over 1,500 accounts were accessed by Iranian users, along with potential activities related to evading sanctions against Russia. The letter further notes that some compliance personnel at Binance who identified suspicious transactions were subsequently dismissed, and law enforcement agencies have indicated that Binance's cooperation in providing customer information has declined. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ruben Gallego, and nine other senators co-signed the letter, expressing concerns about Binance's payment card launched in the former Soviet region and its partnerships related to stablecoins, believing these products could be used to evade sanctions. The senators have requested that the relevant agencies report on the review's progress by March 13. Additionally, Senator Richard Blumenthal initiated a congressional investigation into Binance this Tuesday, requesting relevant documents and internal records from Binance CEO Richard Teng. Binance denies the allegations, stating that it has identified and reported suspicious activities to authorities and does not allow Iranian users to access its platform.

According to CoinDesk, nine Democratic senators from the U.S. Senate have written to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting an investigation into Binance's controls regarding sanctions compliance and anti-money laundering.The senators stated that recent media reports have revealed that transactions related to Binance may provide funding for terrorist organizations and entities evading sanctions, and that some compliance personnel responsible for detecting such transactions have been dismissed. The signatories include Elizabeth Warren, Mark Warner, and several other senators involved in the negotiations of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, and they are asking the two departments to assess whether Binance is complying with its obligations under the settlement reached with the U.S. in 2023.The senators also mentioned Binance's connections to the Trump-backed crypto project World Liberty Financial and the USD 1 stablecoin, as well as Trump's previous pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

The Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee's investigative panel, Senator Richard Blumenthal, has launched an investigation into the cryptocurrency exchange Binance due to reports that the exchange may have violated sanctions.According to reports from The New York Times, Fortune, and The Wall Street Journal, Binance's compliance personnel discovered that two of the exchange's partners, Hexa Whale and Blessed Trust, acted as money laundering intermediaries and allowed transactions with Iranian government entities. Blumenthal has requested that Binance CEO Richard Teng submit records related to "Iranian individuals using Binance" as well as documents regarding the dismissal of compliance personnel.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against the Russian cybersecurity company Operation Zero and its head, Sergey Sergeyevich Zelenyuk, due to allegations that the company funded activities aimed at stealing U.S. trade secrets through cryptocurrency.The sanctions also include five other related individuals, accused of using cyber attack tools to threaten U.S. national security. This action stems from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice last year. An Australian citizen, Peter Williams, has admitted to stealing proprietary software from the U.S. defense contractor he worked for and providing the secrets to Operation Zero in exchange for millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.Williams has pleaded guilty to two counts of trade secret theft. The U.S. Treasury stated that Operation Zero primarily engages in the trading of exploit tools, which can exploit software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, steal data, or control devices. The company also pays individuals who carry out attacks through a bounty system. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that if anyone steals U.S. trade secrets, the U.S. government will hold them accountable and will continue to protect sensitive technology and national security.