Iran’s Crypto Ecosystem Reaches $7.78 Billion Amid Protests
- Iran’s cryptocurrency ecosystem surged to $7.78 billion in value by the end of 2025.
- Daily crypto transfers and transaction amounts increased significantly amid ongoing protests over economic instability.
- Withdrawals from Iranian exchanges to personal Bitcoin wallets spiked, indicating a trend towards self-custody during unrest.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accounted for half of Iran’s crypto activity in Q4 of 2025, receiving over $3 billion.
- Approximately seven million Iranians are estimated to be active cryptocurrency users, representing a significant portion of the population.
The surge in cryptocurrency usage reflects a response to the collapse of the Iranian rial, which has lost substantial value against major currencies like the euro. As protests continue and government crackdowns intensify, cryptocurrencies are becoming vital for financial sovereignty among Iranians.
With an estimated $3.7 billion in total crypto flows tracked between January and July of last year, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are increasingly seen as essential tools for preserving wealth amidst economic turmoil.
