US Sues to Seize $61M in Tether's USDT Linked to Sanctioned Iranian Oil Sales

The US Department of Justice is pursuing civil forfeiture of $61.19 million in Tether's USDT, alleging that it was linked to black-market sales of sanctioned Iranian oil.

The government claims that a network associated with two Hong Kong-incorporated entities, Blessed Trust and Hexa Whale, used Binance accounts to move proceeds from oil sold to buyers in China. The DOJ says related blockchain activity involved more than $1.5 billion in transfers, including movements toward businesses allegedly connected to IRGC-linked financial channels.

Tether froze the USDT across 10 Tron addresses in 2025 under a process tied to a seizure warrant. Binance disputes claims and points to cooperation with law enforcement, saying it does not permit transactions with sanctioned individuals.