US claims $1billion Iranian crypto assets, aims to confiscate properties, says Bessent

The United States has seized about $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets and is working with European allies to confiscate properties linked to Tehran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday.

According to CNN, while speaking about the crackdown, Bessent said the US had directly taken control of Iranian crypto wallets.

“I believe that we have seized about a billion dollars of their crypto,” Bessent said, adding that the US “just outright grab the wallets.”

He also suggested that some account holders may not yet know their assets have been seized.

“Some of them may be like typing in right now, and realize they might not realize that their wallet had been grabbed,” he said.

Bessent said Washington is also working with European partners to target Iranian-linked assets overseas.

“We are working with our allies all over Europe to grab villas and houses and properties,” he said, claiming the funds were stolen from Iranian citizens.

“This is money that's stolen from the Iranian people,” Bessent added.

The treasury secretary further claimed that Iran’s oil export terminal at Kharg Island had effectively been shut down because of a US naval blockade.

He also said Gulf allies had become “very good partners” in financial enforcement efforts after recent Iranian attacks in the region, allowing the US to freeze Iranian bank accounts held abroad.