Iran Wants Bitcoin Payments From Oil Ships Seeking Hormuz Passage

[ZAINmalik75]

Iranian officials said Bitcoin payments would ensure the tolls “can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions.”

• Iran plans to require oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees in Bitcoin.
• Officials say using Bitcoin will help avoid sanctions by making payments harder to trace or seize.
• The proposal follows a ceasefire and could raise tensions with other oil exporters over control of the Strait.

If something like this were to happen, how do you think crypto market would be affected?

I think the market will react in two ways. Some people would see it as a strong real-world use case of Bitcoin in international trade, while others would see it as negative because it is tied to sanction evasion, geopolitics, and possible new regulations. Although the second part is not a big deal for many bitcoiners, still governments and regulators do not like anything that looks like a tool for bypassing sanctions.

Also, Iran said that by using BTC as payment, they can be untraceable, so I am assuming they are going to use mixing tools for this. If not, then how in the world did they say these payments will be harder to trace?
It would be good for BTC's image as a censorship-resistant asset, but we can see high volatility these days, and what will happen after the ceasefire ends, and even if the war ends.

[beerlover]

Did the United States deliberately start the process of destroying the dollar? Maybe this is a strategy of "writing off" the national debt? Doubtful. That would be strange, to say the least.

Could you explain this more clearly? I still do not really understand

In my opinion, the USD is the backbone of American power. Because with USD, they can print money and borrow at extremely low cost, buy global goods with money they print themselves, export inflation, and control the international payment system. Or they could use it as a weapon to impose financial sanction on any country that acts against their interest. If they destroy the USD, they can eliminate the national debt, but at the same time, they will lose all that power
Conversely, I think what they are doing is to protect the USD and the petrodollar.

When you have a currency, and you screw it up, then that currency becomes weaker against others, and that means others will make more, and we are going to end up seeing the world not wanting to use it, making it even worth less. In that case, you have to print more and more, to make sure that you can still keep buying stuff from other nations, and in the end, you become like Zimbabwe.

Now we all know USA is not going to be like Zimbabwe, of course not, but it can be worse than it should, if you run it badly and Trump does. Recessions, inflations, people not being able to afford anything, only the rich are getting richer and %80 of the nation living in poverty line, some are starving, these are all very possible stuff if you let it run for too many years in a row without a recovery.

[DrBeer]

The delusions of Iran’s military junta (and don’t tell me that’s not the case RIGHT NOW) are very reminiscent of Russia’s delusions that everyone will buy Russian gas and oil for rubles! You had a good laugh at that too, didn’t you?
The only ones I really feel sorry for are the people of Iran, who are forced to endure the abuse of this totalitarian regime of religious fanatics

[Minor Miner]

The delusions of Iran’s military junta (and don’t tell me that’s not the case RIGHT NOW) are very reminiscent of Russia’s delusions that everyone will buy Russian gas and oil for rubles! You had a good laugh at that too, didn’t you?
The only ones I really feel sorry for are the people of Iran, who are forced to endure the abuse of this totalitarian regime of religious fanatics

I do not know if Iran will succeed with this idea. However, as far as I know, and although Russia has not yet completely eliminated the USD from its trade operations. But their biggest customers, China, India and Turkiye, all use the yuan, rupee or UAE dirham instead of the USD to trade. Would you call this a failure?

I do not mean to offend or argue, but you should worry about yourself and your country, instead of worrying about the Iranian people. Because if your country were led by a president who was smart enough, Ukraine wouldn't become a pawn on the political chessboard of the US and Russia.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-25/india-refiners-tap-dollar-alternatives-to-purchase-russian-oil
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/traders-seek-yuan-payment-indian-state-buyers-russian-oil-sources-say-2025-10-07/

[programmer3666]

Iranian officials said Bitcoin payments would ensure the tolls “can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions.”

• Iran plans to require oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees in Bitcoin.
• Officials say using Bitcoin will help avoid sanctions by making payments harder to trace or seize.
• The proposal follows a ceasefire and could raise tensions with other oil exporters over control of the Strait.

Source: https://decrypt.co/363641/iran-bitcoin-payments-oil-ships-seeking-hormuz-passage

If something like this were to happen, how do you think crypto market would be affected?

Well, Iran now seems to have that boldness and leverage. They have realized they can affect the global economy through oil, and they are trying to use that position to their advantage. Since the US sanctions have limited their access to the dollar system, they are now looking for other ways to survive financially. Using Bitcoin looks like a smart alternative for them to bypass those restrictions. I guess it’s fair from their point of view, they are just trying to find a way to keep their economy running. But at the same time, this could make the US tighten regulations around crypto even more, just to counter them.

[Wind_FURY]

The delusions of Iran’s military junta (and don’t tell me that’s not the case RIGHT NOW) are very reminiscent of Russia’s delusions that everyone will buy Russian gas and oil for rubles! You had a good laugh at that too, didn’t you?

The people who believe that the United States doesn't have leverage in the situation haven't truly read through that situation. There are countries in the region that have started agreeing with China in using the Yuan for Oil exports. That's literally an attack on the U.S. Dollar from the United States' point of view. So what did they do? Start a war and make Iran a THREAT.

The U.S. could start another bombing campaign that will make Iran fire missiles to its neighbors, and Iran said the next batch of missiles will hit its neighbors' Crude Oil drilling capabilities if the U.S. bomb their power infrastructure.

[m2017]

Iranian officials said Bitcoin payments would ensure the tolls “can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions.”

• Iran plans to require oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees in Bitcoin.
• Officials say using Bitcoin will help avoid sanctions by making payments harder to trace or seize.
• The proposal follows a ceasefire and could raise tensions with other oil exporters over control of the Strait.

Source: https://decrypt.co/363641/iran-bitcoin-payments-oil-ships-seeking-hormuz-passage

Only the lazy haven't discussed this topic yet.

Bitcoin is reaching a new level. Now, even countries are trying to escape the influence of the global traditional financial system, having (suddenly) discovered the advantages of bitcoin.

This also sets a certain precedent: bitcoin could become a global financial instrument, helping to avoid external influence on the economies of individual countries, that is, enabling financial freedom, not at the level of an individual user, but at the level of an entire country.

We live in interesting times, I tell you.

If something like this were to happen, how do you think crypto market would be affected?

Positive. If major players, like individual countries, begin to use bitcoin en masse, this will inevitably increase demand for this currency, and therefore the price.

Imagine the numbers that would emerge if Iran charged a $1 duty on every barrel. For particularly large tankers, the duty could be as high as $2 million (depending on the volume). 20% of the world's oil supplies pass through this strait, and everyone needs oil. This means bitcoin will be used to purchase a resource that the entire world needs. And here, the current bearish market sentiment could reverse dramatically (unless something changes).

[Wind_FURY]

Iranian officials said Bitcoin payments would ensure the tolls “can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions.”

• Iran plans to require oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees in Bitcoin.
• Officials say using Bitcoin will help avoid sanctions by making payments harder to trace or seize.
• The proposal follows a ceasefire and could raise tensions with other oil exporters over control of the Strait.

Source: https://decrypt.co/363641/iran-bitcoin-payments-oil-ships-seeking-hormuz-passage

Only the lazy haven't discussed this topic yet.

Bitcoin is reaching a new level. Now, even countries are trying to escape the influence of the global traditional financial system, having (suddenly) discovered the advantages of bitcoin.

This also sets a certain precedent: bitcoin could become a global financial instrument, helping to avoid external influence on the economies of individual countries, that is, enabling financial freedom, not at the level of an individual user, but at the level of an entire country.

We live in interesting times, I tell you.

Although Iran, or any Nation-State, could use Bitcoin to go around sanctions and use the network as a system to move value without using SWIFT, I believe that Iran is merely trolling right now.

The Strait Of Hormuz will probably be fully open for free after the ceasefire, or else the United States might start their air strikes again.

  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If something like this were to happen, how do you think crypto market would be affected?

Positive. If major players, like individual countries, begin to use bitcoin en masse, this will inevitably increase demand for this currency, and therefore the price.

Imagine the numbers that would emerge if Iran charged a $1 duty on every barrel. For particularly large tankers, the duty could be as high as $2 million (depending on the volume). 20% of the world's oil supplies pass through this strait, and everyone needs oil. This means bitcoin will be used to purchase a resource that the entire world needs. And here, the current bearish market sentiment could reverse dramatically (unless something changes).

The taint though. Any wallet connected to those Bitcoins will be sanctioned as well.

[laspol65]

Iranian officials said Bitcoin payments would ensure the tolls “can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions.”

• Iran plans to require oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay transit fees in Bitcoin.
• Officials say using Bitcoin will help avoid sanctions by making payments harder to trace or seize.
• The proposal follows a ceasefire and could raise tensions with other oil exporters over control of the Strait.

Source: https://decrypt.co/363641/iran-bitcoin-payments-oil-ships-seeking-hormuz-passage

If something like this were to happen, how do you think crypto market would be affected?

Iran has made the right decision at the moment, because they will accept payment through Bitcoin from every ship. However, there are some positive aspects to accepting payment through Bitcoin, including confiscation. Because if Iran had accepted these stable coins like USDT and USDC, then there would have been a possibility of confiscation of Iranian money. But Bitcoin is not controlled by anyone, which is why Iran has used this strategy here.
However, there will be some more positive aspects for Iranians because they will be able to quickly fill the damage caused by the war, and if the economic situation of their country is right, then they will be able to use this Bitcoin as a long-term holding.

[cryptosize]

Imagine if Russia starts demanding oil/gas/wheat payments in BTC... let alone China.

Supercycle is very likely to happen by 2027...

[LOVER BOY 422]

Now this is complete news. I was reading through the thread below earlier, and the conversation under the thread is about how they plan to use USDT as a means of accepting payment for passage and the debate against freezing the account after it's in their hands.

Now that they have made it clear and they thoroughly understand the danger of using USDT that's totally in the control of the US government, which is their enemy.

Hormuz require to use a secret code / crypto payment and furute proposals

Even if they see US as their worst enemy they will not really understand what US is doing for them, it is more better to use USDT than Chinese yum which the US will never give room to accept it , the only power tosal in this case in US never wanted Chinese money to be used , because the target of Chinese is to be the world power ,and if they have this chance they will be a threat to US in future.

[Oluwa-btc]

The delusions of Iran’s military junta (and don’t tell me that’s not the case RIGHT NOW) are very reminiscent of Russia’s delusions that everyone will buy Russian gas and oil for rubles! You had a good laugh at that too, didn’t you?
The only ones I really feel sorry for are the people of Iran, who are forced to endure the abuse of this totalitarian regime of religious fanatics

They're always branded with a new name when they do not align with the US policies, why?! Dictatorship now, I'm reading a new one totalitarian regime of religious fanatics. 

It should be sold with what then?! They're a sovereign nation and should be able to sell so they can see their currency appreciating, no?! Only a sellout would do that. Most sovereign and independent nations do want to sell with their own currency.

[dezoel]

If they actually do this, and of course they are going to stop all American ships, but allow all others and just get paid in bitcoin, that could be massive win for bitcoin.

We are going to see the whole world putting flags of different nations on their ships, and then pay Iran to get pass, and since we need a lot of oil right now, that would mean a lot of ships and that would mean a lot of bitcoin buying going on and that could actually help us a ton. That much buy pressure could see the price go up.

[Wind_FURY]

Imagine if Russia starts demanding oil/gas/wheat payments in BTC... let alone China.

Supercycle is very likely to happen by 2027...

China will never undermine its own ban by accepting Bitcoin for ANY sort of payment. Merely stupid people would assume that they would do that.

It was a dream during the past market cycles. But currently that dream is slowly dying. Bitcoin NOW is better used as a hedge against the legacy financial system and as a censorship-resistant form of payment in the Dark Markets for PLEBS like US.

[Zlantann]

If they actually do this, and of course they are going to stop all American ships, but allow all others and just get paid in bitcoin, that could be massive win for bitcoin.

We are going to see the whole world putting flags of different nations on their ships, and then pay Iran to get pass, and since we need a lot of oil right now, that would mean a lot of ships and that would mean a lot of bitcoin buying going on and that could actually help us a ton. That much buy pressure could see the price go up.

Donald Trump has stated that the US will begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to force Iran to ditch the plan of collecting a fee of about $2m for each ship. So we are now seeing a threat to Iran accepting Bitcoin for such payment.

We might see further escalation because blocking the passage might lead to attacks, which would further increase the oil price. It is glaring that the US sees charging a fee for passage as global extortion.

[Rengga Jati]

This is the right move for Iran's current situation.

Unlike USDT, USDC, or certain other stablecoins, which can be frozen by certain parties, Bitcoin is different. Besides being unfreezeable, unsuppressable, and not subject to specific regulations, Bitcoin also has no issuer at this time, so they are free to transact and utilize it.

This proves that Bitcoin is a solution in crucial times, providing freedom in transactions, ownership, control, and various other aspects.

Bitcoin

[WatChe]

This is the right move for Iran's current situation.

Unlike USDT, USDC, or certain other stablecoins, which can be frozen by certain parties, Bitcoin is different. Besides being unfreezeable, unsuppressable, and not subject to specific regulations, Bitcoin also has no issuer at this time, so they are free to transact and utilize it.

This proves that Bitcoin is a solution in crucial times, providing freedom in transactions, ownership, control, and various other aspects.

Bitcoin

It's a difficult situation for ships passing through Strait of Hormouz because US President has asked its Navy to interdict ships that pay tool to Iran. While ships that don't pay toll will be interdicted by Iranian Navy. If we talk about Bitcoin then it perfectly fits in current situation because US government has the ability to freeze transactions done in USD but due to decentralised nature of Bitcoin, nobody can block it. It will be interesting to see how Iran will liquidate these Bitcoins because US has access to block transactions done through CEX.

[Iranus]

It's a difficult situation for ships passing through Strait of Hormouz because US President has asked its Navy to interdict ships that pay tool to Iran. While ships that don't pay toll will be interdicted by Iranian Navy. If we talk about Bitcoin then it perfectly fits in current situation because US government has the ability to freeze transactions done in USD but due to decentralised nature of Bitcoin, nobody can block it. It will be interesting to see how Iran will liquidate these Bitcoins because US has access to block transactions done through CEX.

There is no denying that the US is a global financial center and is now also a hub for the crypto industry.

However, crypto is a global industry, and not all CEX are established by US companies, or are subject to US regulation and supervision. Many centralized exchanges are not under US oversight.

Therefore, if Iran wanted to liquidate the amount of bitcoin it hold, it would not be too difficult.

[bakasabo]

If they actually do this, and of course they are going to stop all American ships, but allow all others and just get paid in bitcoin, that could be massive win for bitcoin.

We are going to see the whole world putting flags of different nations on their ships, and then pay Iran to get pass, and since we need a lot of oil right now, that would mean a lot of ships and that would mean a lot of bitcoin buying going on and that could actually help us a ton. That much buy pressure could see the price go up.

Donald Trump has stated that the US will begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to force Iran to ditch the plan of collecting a fee of about $2m for each ship. So we are now seeing a threat to Iran accepting Bitcoin for such payment.

We might see further escalation because blocking the passage might lead to attacks, which would further increase the oil price. It is glaring that the US sees charging a fee for passage as global extortion.

Cessation of hostilities hasnt lasted even for one week. I thought they came to an agreement that suits both sides, but it turned out it was a lie from both sides. What has stopped US from making Strait of Hormuz free week ago? And how I wonder they are going to blockade it. But warning or by military force.

Seems another example that Donald Trump is more a businessman than a president, as he and Iran hasnt came to agreement how, how much they are going to charge in fees for passing, and how they are going to split that money.

[Smack That Ace]

Imagine if Russia starts demanding oil/gas/wheat payments in BTC... let alone China.

Supercycle is very likely to happen by 2027...

China will never undermine its own ban by accepting Bitcoin for ANY sort of payment. Merely stupid people would assume that they would do that.

It was a dream during the past market cycles. But currently that dream is slowly dying. Bitcoin NOW is better used as a hedge against the legacy financial system and as a censorship-resistant form of payment in the Dark Markets for PLEBS like US.

Although China has completely banned the use of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies within the country. However, according to some sources, they still accept and use Bitcoin in commercial transactions with Russia. However, the rate of Bitcoin usage is very low, the majority still use yuan and ruble.

It can be said that China still prioritizes e-CNY and the CIPS system over Bitcoin or any other monetary system. They probably will not change their mind because they have their own agendas.


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-russia-settle-energy-trades-012147370.html