US seeks $61 million in USDT tied to alleged Iranian oil sales
DOJ seeks $61M in Tether tied to Iranian oil sales and Binance-linked flows See how sanctions, crypto, and Middle East tensions are reshaping the case
The US Department of Justice is pursuing forfeiture of more than $61 million in Tether's USDT, saying the funds are linked to blackmarket oil sales involving sanctioned Iranian interests. Prosecutors allege the money was moved through Hong Kongbased companies and Binance accounts before being distributed through a wider network of crypto addresses and transfer businesses.
According to the complaint, Tether froze about $61.19 million across 10 Tron addresses in 2025. The DOJ said the assets would only become government property if a court grants a forfeiture judgment, and the allegations have not yet been proven.
The case comes as Washington continues to tighten sanctions on Iran and broaden scrutiny of crypto activity tied to oil trade and other restricted transactions. The article also notes that oil markets have been affected by conflict and disruptions in the Middle East.