主要洞察：
- U.S. DAO 控制并支出的资金。">国库 sanctioned BitBank over alleged Iran-linked crypto transfers.
- OFAC targeted BitBank’s developer and three associates of Babak Zanjani.
- The action expanded sanctions pressure on Iran’s digital asset sector.
On September 17, the U.S. DAO 控制并支出的资金。">国库 sanctioned BitBank, an Iranian digital asset 交易所, to crack down on alleged crypto-based sanctions evasion. The Office of Foreign Assets Control reported that BitBank facilitated the movement of 比特币 associated with state-linked financial networks in Iran.
This measure broadened Washington’s ongoing sanctions campaign to encompass Iran’s 数字资产 sector. It also heightened compliance vulnerabilities for financial institutions and exchanges processing transactions tied to designated Iranian platforms.
U.S. Treasury Targets BitBank Under Iran Sanctions
美国 DAO 控制并支出的资金。">国库 announced that the Office of Foreign Assets Control designated BitBank pursuant to Executive Order 13902, which grants authority to sanction individuals and entities operating within designated sectors of the Iranian economy.
The Treasury characterized BitBank as a digital-asset enterprise managed by the sanctioned Iranian financier Babak Zanjani. Additionally, the agency designated BitBank’s developer—Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company—along with three associates of Zanjani.
These designated individuals are Hossein Ali Zaker Hossein, Mohammad Mahdi Zaker Hossein, and Seyed Adel Heidari. On September 17, OFAC incorporated these entities and individuals into its Specially Designated Nationals list.
According to the Treasury, Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority had utilized BitBank since June to route payments to Iran, an authority that OFAC had previously sanctioned prior to this latest move.
The department asserted that Zanjani 杠杆 BitBank to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars worth of 比特币 to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps between June and July.
Treasury Secretary 斯科特·贝森特 emphasized that cryptocurrency financing remains well within the enforcement reach of OFAC, noting that the department will continue penalizing entities that sustain the Iranian government via such financial avenues.
Executive Order 13902 Expands U.S. Treasury Authority
Issued in January 2020, Executive Order 13902 established sanctions authority over additional sectors of the Iranian economy. The Treasury stated that it is now deploying this authority specifically within Iran’s digital asset sector.
Consequently, the September 17 designations carry implications that extend well beyond BitBank’s direct exposure to the U.S. Under OFAC regulations, any property or interests in property belonging to designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked.
Generally, U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with blocked parties absent a specific exemption or authorization from OFAC. Furthermore, entities that are owned 50 percent or more by blocked individuals also become blocked automatically under these guidelines.
In guidance issued on May 1, OFAC clarified that Iranian digital asset exchanges qualify as Iranian financial institutions. As a result, their assets located within U.S. jurisdiction remain frozen under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
An additional warning was issued to non-U.S. firms regarding secondary sanctions exposure in guidance published on August 7. Foreign institutions risk facing restrictions if they engage in specific transactions with exchanges designated under Executive Order 13902.
This directive empowers OFAC to penalize parties that supply material or technological assistance to designated exchanges, as well as to limit correspondent banking access for foreign institutions that facilitate certain transactions.
The Treasury’s September 17 announcement also cautioned that breaching sanctions can result in severe civil or criminal penalties, with OFAC authorized to levy civil fines under a strict liability standard in relevant cases.
BitBank Action Extends Digital Asset Enforcement
The targeting of BitBank formed a component of Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign unveiled by the Treasury on August 24 aimed at dismantling Iran-connected financial channels and sanctions evasion frameworks.
The Treasury has previously deployed this initiative against various banks, transportation networks, and financial intermediaries. On September 14, the operation also targeted Russia’s VTB Bank over alleged sanctions evasion tied to Iran.
Officials noted that BitBank operated as a piece of Zanjani’s broader digital asset network, following the 2026 sanctions placed on other organizations connected to Zanjani.
OFAC documentation notes that BitBank is an Iranian entity founded in 2024. The September 17 listing categorized the firm under financial and insurance activities while highlighting its secondary sanctions exposure.
The Treasury reported that Pishtaz Simorgh engineered the software for BitBank’s digital asset platform. Furthermore, OFAC identified Mohammad Mahdi Zaker Hossein as the chief executive officer of the development company.
For cryptocurrency organizations, this designation heightens counterparty and screening risks concerning Iranian platforms. Exchanges and payment processors are advised to cross-reference wallet exposures, ownership ties, and transaction partners against official OFAC records.
The enforcement action does not institute a blanket prohibition on all cryptocurrency transactions. Instead, it applies current sanctions frameworks directly to designated Iranian entities and their associated financial behaviors.
U.S. Treasury Signals More Iran Crypto Scrutiny
The U.S. Treasury 得到确认 that Operation Economic Outcast will persist in its efforts to disrupt financial infrastructure connected to Iran, while warning institutions against interacting with sanctioned Iranian crypto exchanges.
Existing OFAC guidance already addresses both domestic and international exposure to targeted Iranian platforms, offering compliance departments a reliable framework to evaluate any BitBank-associated activity.
Future developments will emerge through official OFAC updates and subsequent Treasury designations, with any new additions reflected via official Specially Designated Nationals announcements or updated Iran-related guidance.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Sanctions requirements depend on jurisdiction, counterparties, and specific transaction circumstances.
常见问题
- Why was BitBank sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury?
BitBank was sanctioned for allegedly facilitating crypto-based sanctions evasion and moving 比特币 tied to Iran’s state-linked financial networks. - Who controls BitBank according to the U.S. Treasury?
The Treasury described BitBank as a digital-asset venture controlled by sanctioned Iranian financier Babak Zanjani. - Under which order was BitBank targeted?
BitBank was designated under Executive Order 13902, which authorizes sanctions on specified sectors of Iran’s economy. - What are the risks for non-U.S. firms?
Foreign institutions face secondary sanctions exposure and potential restrictions on correspondent banking if they provide material 支撑 or conduct certain transactions with designated Iranian exchanges.
Arnold Kirimi 