Tether says it helped freeze $550 million in Iran-linked USDT
Tether freezes USDT tied to Iran as authorities probe sanctions evasion See how the issuer blocked $550M and why U.S. lawmakers are demanding action
Tether said it assisted authorities in freezing nearly $550 million in USDT tied to Iran during 2026, according to a statement published on Monday.
The company said it froze more than $130 million across four wallets this year and more than $344 million linked to Iran’s central bank in April. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the issuer has worked with law enforcement for years to trace and block assets tied to sanctions evasion, terrorism, and other crimes.
The announcement came after Senate Democratic investigators released a report alleging that USDT has played a major role in Iran’s shadow banking network. The report said many wallets sanctioned for Iranrelated activity had used USDT, prompting Senator Richard Blumenthal to call for investigations by the Treasury and Justice departments.