When the Iranian rial crypto restrictions, government policies that limit cryptocurrency use to control capital flight and evade financial sanctions. Also known as crypto controls in Iran, these rules don’t stop people from using Bitcoin—they just force it underground. The Iranian rial has lost over 90% of its value since 2018. People can’t buy dollars, access international banking, or even import basic goods. So they turn to crypto—not for speculation, but survival.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government runs massive Bitcoin mining operations using subsidized electricity. The IRGC crypto, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ involvement in cryptocurrency mining and trading to generate hard currency outside U.S. financial oversight. mines Bitcoin 24/7 while ordinary Iranians face blackouts. This isn’t a free market—it’s a state takeover of digital currency to bypass sanctions. The U.S. and EU have tried to cut off Iran’s crypto access, but the regime uses proxy exchanges, anonymous mining farms, and offshore wallets to keep the flow going. The result? A two-tier system: the elite profit from mining, while everyday citizens risk jail for using peer-to-peer crypto apps.
These restrictions don’t kill crypto—they make it more dangerous. People trade Bitcoin over Telegram, use local exchangers with no KYC, and risk everything for a few dollars in stablecoins. But scams are everywhere. Fake airdrops, rigged exchanges, and phishing wallets target desperate users. And if you’re caught trading without permission? You could lose your crypto, your phone, or worse. This is why Iran’s crypto scene is a mix of innovation, desperation, and state control. Below, you’ll find real stories, technical breakdowns, and hard facts about how Iran uses Bitcoin to survive—and who pays the price.
Iran has imposed strict limits on crypto trading to protect the collapsing rial, capping stablecoin purchases at $5,000 annually and banning all crypto ads. Despite this, mining continues for state profit, and citizens still turn to crypto to survive inflation.
