US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (April 22, 2026)
US freezes $344 million in cryptocurrency linked to Iran: Treasury chief
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The United States has frozen $344 million in digital assets linked to Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday, as Washington seeks to intensify pressure on Tehran amid energy supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.
In a statement posted on X, Bessent said the Treasury Department continues to "systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds."
He added that the department had imposed sanctions on "multiple wallets tied to Iran," resulting in the freezing of the funds.
The move comes as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to travel to Pakistan on Saturday for a new round of talks with Iran aimed at ending the war.
The war erupted after US-‘Israeli’ strikes targeted Iran on February 28, killing prominent figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington is targeting methods used to evade traditional sanctions, such as front companies, in addition to newer channels like digital assets.
The official added that the Treasury Department is engaged in active discussions with financial institutions, including digital asset trading platforms.
