Chainalysis Estimate Pegs Iran's Crypto Ecosystem at $7.8B Last Year
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accounted for about half of all crypto inflows in Q4 2025.
Crypto surveillance and analytics firm Chainalysis now estimates that Iran's crypto ecosystem topped more than $7.8 billion in 2025. Crypto activity related to the country also spiked around major domestic and geopolitical events.
What's the Scoop?
- IRGC Involvement: Chainalysis estimates that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian armed forces and U.S.-designated terrorist organization, accounted for at least half of Iran's crypto activity in 2025, receiving a minimum of $3B in crypto last year.
- Safe Harbor: Iran’s crypto activity remained correlated with domestic and geopolitical uncertainty, surging during the 12-day war in June 2025 as the Iranian <> Israeli tensions reached a boiling point. Chainalysis suggested the behavior was emblematic of, "a flight to safety amid currency collapse and political instability."
Inside Iran’s Growing $7.8 Billion Crypto Ecosystem
Iran’s crypto ecosystem reached over $7.78 billion in 2025, having grown at a faster pace for most of the year compared to the year prior.
Chainalysis Team
Jack Inabinet
Jack Inabinet is a Senior Analyst with a passion for exploring the bleeding edge of crypto and finance. Prior to joining Bankless, Jack worked as an analyst at HAL Real Estate where he conducted market research and financial analysis for commercial real estate development and acquisition activities in the Seattle region. He graduated from the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business.
