Tether Freezes $550M in Iran-Linked USDT Amid Expanded Sanctions

Tether, the issuer of the popular stablecoin USDT, has taken significant action against entities linked to Iran. According to a recent statement, Tether froze approximately $550 million in USDT on addresses connected to Iranian networks in 2026.

The freeze was triggered by information from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and American law enforcement, which identified these addresses as being associated with the Central Bank of Iran. Following this, Tether helped freeze over $344 million on two addresses in April, with an additional $130 million frozen on four TRON addresses in July.

Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, stated that the company consistently demonstrates USDT is not a haven for sanctioned entities, terrorist organizations, or criminal networks. The company has also highlighted its cooperation with law enforcement, having worked with over 340 agencies in 67 countries and frozen more than $4.9 billion.