# Chainalysis Estimate Pegs Iran's Crypto Ecosystem at $7.8B Last Year

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: Jan 16, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/chainalysis-pegs-iranian-cryptocurrency-ecosystem-at-7-8b*

---

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 EcosystemIran’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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/icon-192x192.png)ChainalysisChainalysis Team![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/2026-01-iran.jpg)](https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/iranian-crypto-activity-geopolitical-tensions-2026/)
---

*This article is brought to you by [MetaMask](https://www.bankless.com/sponsor/metamask-1776260643?ref=read/news/chainalysis-pegs-iranian-cryptocurrency-ecosystem-at-7-8b)*