A report published by the Italian outlet Inside Over, authored by Andrea Muratori, outlines Iran’s efforts to deploy cryptocurrencies as a new pressure tool within its geopolitical confrontation. The proposal centres on imposing transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, payable in digital assets. The report describes this move as a potentially unprecedented shift in the rules governing international trade and maritime navigation.
According to the report, Iran has spent recent years developing a flexible economic system that has enabled it to bypass Western sanctions that largely isolated it from the global economy. This system is now being leveraged to strengthen Tehran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in the context of a fragile ceasefire with the United States announced on 8 April.
A Digital Toll on Global Shipping
The report cites Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for the Iranian Union of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exporters, who told the Financial Times that Tehran intends to impose transit fees on ships crossing the Strait. These fees would be collected using cryptocurrencies, in exchange for allowing vessels access to global markets through this critical maritime corridor.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has reportedly set the fee at the equivalent of one dollar per barrel of oil. The measure is expected to apply to countries that do not maintain transit agreements with Iran, signalling a selective enforcement mechanism aligned with Tehran’s strategic interests.
Cryptocurrencies at the Core of National Security
The report highlights the growing integration of digital currencies into Iran’s national security framework. Cryptocurrencies are no longer treated purely as economic instruments but are increasingly being deployed to reinforce Tehran’s political and military leverage.
The Financial Times warned that any attempt by Iran to maintain direct control over this vital shipping route would likely provoke strong opposition from Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Cryptocurrencies have become a central pillar of Iran’s sanctions resistant economy. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis estimates that Iran’s cryptocurrency market reached approximately 7.78 billion dollars in 2025, with around half of that activity linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to the report, digital assets help the IRGC mitigate the effects of inflation and the depreciation of the Iranian rial. They also facilitate revenue generation from activities such as oil and arms sales, while supporting external operations including intelligence gathering, recruitment efforts, and backing regional allies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
A Disruptive Shift in Global Trade
Over the past decade, Iran has emerged as a significant player in the cryptocurrency space. The report suggests that ongoing geopolitical tensions are likely to drive further activity into this sector, noting that Chainalysis recorded a notable surge in cryptocurrency usage during the twelve day conflict in June 2025.
The United States has long monitored Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, while the US Treasury has imposed sanctions on entities linked to the Central Bank of Iran’s digital currency programme, citing its role in circumventing sanctions.
However, the report indicates that Tehran is now moving into a new phase by deploying cryptocurrencies at a geopolitical level. It is believed that Iran may hold digital wallets in allied countries such as Russia, either directly or through institutions connected to the government and the IRGC.
The use of cryptocurrencies could also serve as a practical alternative to reliance on the Chinese yuan, particularly for countries aligned with the United States and Israel, including some European states. This mechanism may allow them to bypass financial restrictions imposed by Washington.
Strategic Implications for the Strait of Hormuz
The report concludes that this proposed system could disrupt the normal flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz and evolve into a form of economic deterrence aimed at pressuring Washington towards a more flexible political resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Geopolitical and economic analyst Luca Picotti described the plan as a financial extension of Iran’s assertion of sovereignty over the Strait. He noted that imposing transit fees through cryptocurrencies represents an unexpected precedent in the legal frameworks governing maritime law and international trade.
