Chainalysis: Paying Iran with cryptocurrency may face sanctions risks

MeNews · 2026-04-13T04:55:33+00:00

Chainalysis analyst Kaitlin Martin warns that using cryptocurrencies to pay for transit fees to Iran could expose shipping companies to severe sanctions risks. Any payments to the Iranian regime are considered support and may violate U.S. and international sanctions.

MeNews

2026-04-13 04:55:33

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ME News report, April 11 (UTC+8). Chainalysis senior intelligence analyst Kaitlin Martin said that shipping companies that use cryptocurrency payments to cover transit fees that could be routed to Iran may face serious sanctions risks. Martin told Cointelegraph that, under the current sanctions framework, any payments to the Iranian regime—including payments related to passage through key waterways—could be interpreted as “material support,” putting companies at risk of violating U.S. and international restrictions. “Doing so could pose serious sanctions-violation risks because the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is sanctioned in multiple jurisdictions, and Iran itself is under comprehensive U.S. sanctions,” she said. Earlier, there were reports that Iran might seek to collect transit fees in the form of cryptocurrencies. Although it has not yet been officially confirmed, U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he will not accept any attempt by Tehran to impose transit fees on shipping that transits this important waterway. (Source: ODAILY)

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