The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Bitcoin exchanges Zedcex and Zedxion, citing their connections to Iranian officials involved in human rights abuses. These platforms, registered in the UK, are part of wider measures against individuals linked to Iran's oppressive regime.
Among those sanctioned is Iran's Minister of the Interior, Eskandar Momeni Kalagari, alongside other officials tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sanctions also include businessman Babak Monteza Zanjani, previously sentenced to death for embezzling from national oil revenues, who has been accused of facilitating financial support to the government after his release.
According to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Zedcex and Zedxion processed transactions exceeding $94 million related to the IRGC. This announcement marks a significant move, as it is the first time that digital asset exchanges have been sanctioned for their roles in Iran's financial sector.
