Tag: Iran

US senator probes Binance over alleged Iran and Russia sanctions violations

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Richard Blumenthal, the senior Democratic senator from Connecticut, is investigating Binance, the largest crypto exchange by trading volume, over allegations that it enabled Iranian money laundering schemes and sanctions evasion linked to Russian oil trade. In a letter sent Tuesday to Binance CEO Richard Teng, Blumenthal pointed to reports from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Fortune that Binance partners Hexa Whale and Blessed Trust allegedly acted as intermediaries for illicit transactions tied to Iranian government entities, terrorist groups including the Houthis, and Russia’s shadow oil fleet.…

Israel Arrests Two Over Polymarket Trades on Iran Strikes

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Israeli authorities have arrested and indicted two people for allegedly using secret information to place bets on the predictions market Polymarket related to Israel striking Iran. In a joint statement on Thursday, Israel’s Defense Ministry, its internal security service Shin Bet, and police said a military reservist and a civilian were arrested after an investigation found that the reservist obtained classified information to place the bets. The prosecutor’s office will pursue criminal charges for security-related offenses, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Authorities said the reservist was working for Shin Bet.…

Iran Turns to Crypto Amid Collapsing Economy, Protests

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Crypto usage in Iran has spiked amid the country’s mass protests, with a surge of Iranians withdrawing Bitcoin to preserve value amid instability, according to Chainalysis. Protests in Iran began around Dec. 28 over worsening economic conditions, after the Iranian rial hit record lows against the US dollar. Demonstrations escalated nationwide, with Iran’s regime responding by cutting internet access, carrying out mass arrests, and reportedly killing thousands. Chainalysis said in a report on Thursday that Iran’s crypto ecosystem hit $7.78 billion in 2025, which accelerated amid the ongoing unrest with…

Silver hits fresh high above $84, gold breaks record after Trump flags possible action on Iran

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Key Takeaways Gold prices hit an all-time high due to geopolitical risks. Silver reached a new record of $84 per ounce, driven by investment and industrial demand. Share this article Precious metals advanced in the early hours of Monday as investors sought safety amid rising geopolitical tensions. Spot gold established a fresh high near $4,600, while silver scaled levels above $84, per TradingView. The rallies come as tensions between the US and Iran escalate amid Iranian domestic instability. The US is evaluating a range of punitive measures against the Middle…

Role Of Tether’s USDT Venezuela And Iran Highlights Duality Of Stablecoins

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Recent turmoil in Venezuela and Iran has again put the spotlight on the duality of stablecoins, with the US dollar-backed assets such as Tether acting as both a savior for embattled citizens and a tool for blacklisted entities to evade sanctions.  Both Venezuela and Iran have been catching headlines at the beginning of 2026 amid political uncertainty and civil unrest. With both facing a host of sanctions, inflation, political instability, and a cost-of-living crisis, crypto and stablecoins have become an important part of the ecosystem.  Iran’s stablecoin entanglement Iran has…

Iran to Intensify Crackdown as 95% of its 427K Crypto Rigs Run Illegally

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Iran’s crypto mining industry is facing a widespread illegal mining crisis, with authorities estimating that over 95% of the country’s 427,000 active mining devices are operating without authorization. Akbar Hasan Beklou, CEO of the Tehran Province Electricity Distribution Company, said on Sunday that Iran has become the world’s fourth-largest crypto mining hub, fueled by the country’s heavily subsidized electricity prices, which have made it a “paradise for illegal miners.” These unlicensed operations consume more than 1,400 megawatts of power around the clock, placing immense pressure on the national grid and…

Big Iran Bank Goes Bankrupt, Affecting 42 Million Customers

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One of Iran’s largest private banks has fallen into bankruptcy, with the assets of more than 42 million customers being absorbed by the Iranian state-owned lender, Bank Melli. Ayandeh Bank declared bankruptcy on Thursday after it accumulated $5.1 billion in losses and nearly $3 billion in debt, local media outlet Iran International reported on Friday. The bankruptcy was declared days after the Central Bank of Iran failed to rescue the bank, leaving officials with no option but to close it, which had operated 270 branches nationwide.  More than 42 million customers were…

Will Recent Economic Sanctions Drive Iran to Cryptocurrency?

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A recent FinCEN advisory has stated that the re-imposition of economic sanctions on November 5 could drive Iran to get more serious about the cryptocurrency experiments it began in 2013. Could Iran Follow North Korea’s Lead Evading Sanctions Using Crypto? Iran has made little secret of its interest in cryptocurrency. The nation is believed to have been exploring the financial technology’s use since 2013. In an advisory issued on October 11, the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) stated that the Gulf State may be forced to increase its forays…

Week In Review: President Donald Trump Exits Iran Deal | CNBC

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President Donald Trump exits the Iran Deal, AT&T says hiring Michael Cohen was a ‘mistake’ plus, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger and Chamath Palihapitiya weigh in on bitcoin. » Subscribe to CNBC: http://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC About CNBC: From ‘Wall Street’ to ‘Main Street’ to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/ Find CNBC News on Facebook: http://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC News on Twitter: http://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow…