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littlemissmartypants

(34,664 posts)
Fri May 29, 2026, 05:20 PM Friday

US says it has seized $1 billion in crypto assets from Iran

Source: Reuters/Times of Israel

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US has seized $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets as part of the economic component of President Donald Trump's war on the Islamic Republic.

By Reuters
Today, 10:38 pm Israel (7 hours ahead)

Read more: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-says-it-has-seized-1-billion-in-crypto-assets-from-iran/



US Reaches $1 Billion Seized Iran Crypto to Date: Bessent's Big Update

US reaches $1 billion cumulative seizure of Iranian crypto assets to date.
Bessent updates total from $500 million in April to $1 billion today.
Part of Operation Economic Fury targeting Iran sanctions evasion networks.

Cumulative Total Hits $1 Billion
The figure represents the running total seized to date, not a single new action announced today.

It builds on earlier milestones, including a major April 2026 freeze of $344 million in USDT on the Tron blockchain.

Published:
29 May 2026, 19:22 UTC
Updated:
29 May 2026, 19:31 UTC

https://beincrypto.com/us-1-billion-seized-iran-crypto/
23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
US says it has seized $1 billion in crypto assets from Iran (Original Post) littlemissmartypants Friday OP
isn't that why they use crypto? so the gov't can't seize it? rampartd Friday #1
I suspect that the sanctions placed on Iran have fixed any problems to access the regime had. littlemissmartypants Friday #4
Are crypto assets real? Being a basic (poor) person on a fixed income I really don't know... wcmagumba Friday #2
I'm no expert Laha Friday #6
Buy drugs or weapons? WA-03 Democrat Friday #11
Trump stealing everything down to the studs is official US policy. Irish_Dem Friday #3
This stillspkg Friday #13
It is a clinical seminar: How psychopaths function when they have no restraints. Irish_Dem Yesterday #21
I so wished that the pedopres did not represent me or all the other decent Americans in any way. efhmc Friday #14
Our country is run by ruthless, dangerous, psychopaths. Irish_Dem Yesterday #22
What's His Cut 2na fisherman Friday #5
I expect we'll never know. Harker Friday #8
That was my first thought, 2na fisherman. They probably took more than that but we're only hearing about a small bit. littlemissmartypants Friday #9
Since it's fake money anyway, they'll keep all of it FakeNoose Friday #10
I don't believe it. paleotn Friday #7
"Crypto Assets" mdbl Friday #12
IMO this is one more grandiose lie. No evidence to support it and dealing with a "currency" which exists in abstraction Ford_Prefect Friday #15
My question is why does Bessent seem to be doing Marco Rubio's job? littlemissmartypants Yesterday #18
I thought the vaunted "blockchain"..... SergeStorms Yesterday #23
$1 billion in crypto assets Roy Rolling Friday #16
These seized assets are the assets of the Iranian government. littlemissmartypants Yesterday #17
Good to know the US Treasury can do this Deminpenn Yesterday #19
So Will This Be Counted modrepub Yesterday #20

Laha

(436 posts)
6. I'm no expert
Fri May 29, 2026, 06:29 PM
Friday

Just speaking from some small personal trading experience.

The short answer is no. They don't produce anything so the value only exists by what people believe it to be.

"Seizing" crypto funds isn't like seizing currency. All they're going to do is spook the investors who might buy, and as a result tank the market. There will be nothing to withdraw from anywhere because it takes public trust. Which is eroding quickly, because crypto has repeatedly proven itself to be nothing but a haven for risky investors and tax evaders.

I don't know where things will go from here. Just my random thoughts.

WA-03 Democrat

(3,373 posts)
11. Buy drugs or weapons?
Fri May 29, 2026, 07:28 PM
Friday

There is no physical asset behind it, no bank, no country, no hard currency. It’s just a digital asset that sits on a server and in someone’s or thing’s digital wallet. The values swing and the valuation is suspect like everything else these days. Where are those 2 missing pilots we got out during Easter weekend now?

Think of it as a bag of magic beans that don’t work-but we have a billion more now.

stillspkg

(209 posts)
13. This
Fri May 29, 2026, 09:50 PM
Friday

It is theft, or bullying. So sick. I'm sure there will be no end to this until that kind of crap stops

efhmc

(17,051 posts)
14. I so wished that the pedopres did not represent me or all the other decent Americans in any way.
Fri May 29, 2026, 09:55 PM
Friday

Irish_Dem

(82,689 posts)
22. Our country is run by ruthless, dangerous, psychopaths.
Sat May 30, 2026, 06:27 AM
Yesterday

And yes they represent the USA.

littlemissmartypants

(34,664 posts)
9. That was my first thought, 2na fisherman. They probably took more than that but we're only hearing about a small bit.
Fri May 29, 2026, 06:40 PM
Friday

paleotn

(22,848 posts)
7. I don't believe it.
Fri May 29, 2026, 06:31 PM
Friday

If Bessent, the man with the most punchable face imaginable, said the sun rises in the east each morning, I'd ask for confirmation.

Ford_Prefect

(8,676 posts)
15. IMO this is one more grandiose lie. No evidence to support it and dealing with a "currency" which exists in abstraction
Fri May 29, 2026, 10:23 PM
Friday

SergeStorms

(20,891 posts)
23. I thought the vaunted "blockchain".....
Sat May 30, 2026, 06:55 AM
Yesterday

prevented thievery of crypto assets? If governments can seize crypto "assets" from countries or people does that mean those "assets" aren't safe at all?

I call bullshit on this "seizure."

Deminpenn

(17,603 posts)
19. Good to know the US Treasury can do this
Sat May 30, 2026, 03:58 AM
Yesterday

Last edited Sat May 30, 2026, 02:43 PM - Edit history (1)

for when the next Dem president needs to recover all the money Trump and his cronies have stolen and grifted from US taxpayers.

modrepub

(4,210 posts)
20. So Will This Be Counted
Sat May 30, 2026, 06:10 AM
Yesterday

As part of Iran’s $300 BILLION reconstruction fund?

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/iran-eastern-states/artc-new-details-negotiations-300-billion-fund-for-iran-and-a-halt-to-fighting-in-lebanon-report

We’ll all probably be stuck paying into this fund because most sane countries wouldn’t turn over funds that would almost definitely not be used to actually help most Iranians.

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