When government controls block access to global banking, people find other ways to pay, save, and trade. In Iran, crypto payments, digital transactions using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to bypass financial censorship. Also known as cryptocurrency-based trade, it has become a lifeline for millions facing inflation, frozen bank accounts, and international sanctions. Unlike in countries where crypto is optional, in Iran it’s often necessary—used to buy medicine, send remittances, and pay for online services that traditional banks won’t touch.
Iran’s government officially bans crypto for domestic use, claiming it threatens the national currency. But the ban doesn’t stop the market—it just pushes it underground. People trade via P2P crypto Iran, peer-to-peer networks where individuals exchange crypto for cash or local currency without intermediaries, often through Telegram groups or local dealers. Some use Iranian exchanges that support RUB-to-crypto trades, while others rely on international platforms like Binance or LocalBitcoins with fake IDs. The result? An estimated $25 billion in crypto is held by Iranian citizens outside state control, according to reports from blockchain analysts tracking wallet activity.
It’s not just about avoiding banks. Crypto lets Iranians access goods and services that are otherwise locked out—Amazon gift cards, cloud storage, software subscriptions, even medical equipment from overseas suppliers. The same tools that North Korea uses to launder money are being used by ordinary Iranians to survive. And while some projects like crypto restrictions Iran, government policies that limit crypto use to protect the national currency and prevent capital flight make headlines, the real story is happening in kitchens, garages, and mobile shops where people swap cash for Bitcoin in seconds.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t theory. It’s real-world examples: how Iranians buy crypto with rubles using local methods, how underground markets operate under bans, and why some exchanges block Iranian users while others quietly serve them. You’ll see how scams target the desperate, how P2P networks stay hidden, and what happens when a government tries to outlaw money itself. This isn’t about speculation. It’s about survival—and the quiet revolution happening one crypto transaction at a time.
Iran allows businesses to accept cryptocurrency-but only through strict government-controlled exchanges. Learn the rules, hidden costs, taxes, and real risks of using crypto in Iran in 2025.