Crypto worth Rp164 billion leaves Iran as US-Israel strikes begin

Analysts say crypto outflows from Iran surged after US and Israeli military strikes on a number of targets in the country at the end of February 2026. Data from blockchain analytics firms shows that crypto assets worth about $10.3 million (about Rp164.8 billion) exited from several Iranian crypto exchanges in the days immediately following the attacks. The jump in activity occurred between 28 February and 2 March 2026, according to blockchain research firm Chainalysis. Crypto transaction activity spiked just hours after the military operation began. Elliptic researchers also noted a similar spike on Nobitex, one of Iran’s largest crypto exchanges. Outflows from the platform reached $2.89 million (about Rp48.6 billion) in a single hour, roughly eight times higher than the previous day’s peak transactions. Blockchain tracking data shows that a portion of the funds was sent to international crypto exchanges or private crypto wallets, enabling holders to move funds across borders without using traditional banking systems. “Part of the fund flow may have originated from Iranian citizens moving assets due to rising risk,” Chainalysis wrote. “But others could be from exchanges rebalancing liquidity or from state actors taking advantage of crypto platforms,” the firm added in its analysis, cited by KompasTekno. The report also highlights the increasing use of crypto in Iran in recent years. International sanctions pressure, high inflation, and limited access to the global financial system have driven people and economic actors to seek alternative payment systems and stores of value. Analysts estimate crypto transaction activity in Iran in 2025 reached around $8 to $11 billion, indicating a growing role for digital assets in the country’s economy.