Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company froze Iran-linked addresses an average of four weeks before formal OFAC and NBCTF sanctions, while related stablecoin transaction volume fell 94%, according to a BlockBeats report citing his post.
Tether’s response
Ardoino said 99% of relevant freezes preceded Chainalysis markings and that cooperation with law enforcement supported rapid action. Tether also said it had helped freeze about $550 million in Iran-linked USDT since 2026.
Senate scrutiny
BlockBeats said a Senate investigation report analyzed 846 wallets linked to Iran or affiliates and found 84% used USDT exclusively or almost exclusively. The report called for Treasury and Justice Department investigations into Tether’s anti-money-laundering and sanctions compliance, according to the flash.
Source: BlockBeats flash.