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Tether has frozen $344 million in USDT connected to wallets allegedly associated with Iran’s Central Bank, according to Arkham Intelligence. The freeze followed an investigation into suspected sanctions-evasion activity as international scrutiny of crypto transactions involving sanctioned entities continues to intensify.
Arkham Intelligence said it deanonymized the Central Bank of Iran’s crypto wallets after Tether froze the USDT. The firm later publicly labeled the addresses, turning the case into one of the largest stablecoin freezes involving a state-linked entity.
Arkham’s data indicated the labeled wallets collectively held more than $344 million in USDT, along with smaller balances in TRX and HTX-related assets.
The freeze highlights a key distinction between decentralized cryptocurrencies and centralized stablecoins. Bitcoin transactions, for example, cannot be stopped by a central issuer, while USDT can be frozen directly by Tether when wallets are suspected of violating sanctions or compliance requirements.
Tether’s action comes amid broader efforts by stablecoin issuers to strengthen compliance systems. Tether has previously stated that it works with more than 340 agencies across 65 jurisdictions and has assisted investigations involving ransomware, fraud, and illicit transfers.
In the United States and Europe, regulators have increased pressure on stablecoin issuers to improve compliance. Several governments have also viewed blockchain monitoring tools as part of financial enforcement strategies.
Arkham’s decision to publicly tag the wallets may extend beyond the initial freeze. Once addresses are labeled on-chain, exchanges and compliance providers can track future activity more efficiently across multiple networks.
Public blockchain data has increasingly been used to trace transactions tied to sanctioned individuals and organizations. Blockchain intelligence firms have expanded as regulators have focused more heavily on crypto-related financial flows since 2020.
While privacy advocates have criticized the use of on-chain labeling and monitoring, many crypto companies argue that transparent blockchains provide stronger auditability than traditional offshore banking systems.
The case is also likely to feed ongoing discussions within the digital asset industry about the balance between censorship resistance and compliance as stablecoins continue to expand in global payments and liquidity markets.
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