MENA Blockchain Transactions Skyrocket to $350 Billion Amid Iran Conflict
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen its blockchain transaction value skyrocket to an estimated $350 billion by 2025-2026, a more than threefold increase from approximately $100 billion in 2022. The rapid growth is attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has pushed regional capital towards digital assets as investors seek to preserve wealth and move money during disruption.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute's report highlights that investors initially shifted away from riskier cryptocurrencies and into Bitcoin after the conflict broke out between Israel and Iran in June 2025. However, they soon moved back into BTC as a safe-haven asset, with its share of the crypto market reaching a one-month high of 64.8%. The price of Bitcoin stabilized despite continued fighting.
The report also notes that traditional markets were closed during the conflict, while crypto markets remained open around the clock, facilitating the use of digital assets for wealth preservation and value transfer. Countries such as Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iran experienced currency depreciation, driving individuals to use Bitcoin and stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar.