TL;DR
- Iran-linked freezes: Tether said approximately $550 million in USDT tied to Iran’s Central Bank and sanctions networks was frozen during 2026 through actions coordinated with U.S. authorities.
- International cooperation: The company highlighted work with Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing, including wallet freezes connected to alleged illicit activity and Iran-linked networks.
- Enforcement reach: Tether reported working with more than 340 agencies across 67 countries, supporting over 2,800 investigations and helping freeze more than $4.9 billion in assets.
Tether has reaffirmed its cooperation with U.S. and international law enforcement agencies as authorities expand efforts to disrupt sanctions-evasion networks linked to Iran. The statement comes as the U.S. Department of the Treasury intensifies scrutiny of digital assets through Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign designed to target financial networks supporting the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to Tether, actions involving USDT during 2026 have resulted in approximately $550 million in assets being frozen across wallets identified by U.S. authorities as connected to Iran’s Central Bank and related sanctions networks. The company said the figure reflects multiple actions carried out in coordination with law enforcement agencies.
Major Freezes Target Iran-Linked Wallets
A significant portion of the frozen funds stems from actions taken earlier this year. In April 2026, Tether assisted in freezing more than $344 million in USDT held across two addresses after receiving information from OFAC and U.S. law enforcement. The following day, those addresses were formally added by OFAC as digital currency identifiers associated with the Central Bank of Iran.
Additional enforcement followed in July, when more than $130 million in USDT across four wallets was frozen after Treasury expanded an existing sanctions designation to include four additional TRON addresses. Together, those actions account for roughly $550 million in Iran-linked USDT frozen during 2026. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said public blockchains provide authorities with visibility into fund movements and enable action when credible information is supplied by investigators.
Global Cooperation Extends Beyond Iran Cases
The company said Tether has worked with Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing for several years. In 2023, Tether disclosed the freezing of 32 addresses containing $873,118.34 connected to illicit activity affecting Israel and Ukraine. The cooperation continued in 2025 after Israeli authorities published a list of cryptocurrency addresses allegedly linked to the IRGC. According to the company, 39 of those addresses had been blacklisted by Tether, freezing approximately $1.5 million in USDT.
More Than 2,800 Investigations Supported
Beyond the Iran-related actions, Tether said it works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies across 67 countries. The company reported supporting more than 2,800 investigations globally, including over 1,500 involving U.S. authorities. Those efforts have led to more than $4.9 billion in frozen assets, with over $2.4 billion connected to U.S. agencies.
Tether also highlighted cooperation in several enforcement actions involving fraud schemes, sanctions violations, terrorist financing investigations, and illicit fund recoveries, maintaining that Tether will continue providing assistance to authorities seeking to trace and freeze criminal proceeds.
