Cryptocurrency wallets with a value of $1.5 billion connected to Iran's Revolutionary Guard have been traced by Israel
In a significant move against financial activities linked to terrorist groups, the US Department of Justice announced the seizure of over half a million dollars in cryptocurrencies from an individual named Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi. Abedini, who is associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) drone program, had his non-custodial wallet holding USDT (Tether) assets seized last Friday.
The IRGC, designated as a terrorist group by several jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, has been reported to be actively using cryptocurrencies for its financial transactions. The inherent transparency of blockchain technology has allowed authorities to gain comprehensive visibility into these financial flows.
The National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing of Israel (NBCTF) has published a list of 187 cryptocurrency addresses linked to the IRGC. According to reports, some of these addresses may be controlled by cryptocurrency services and could be part of wallet infrastructure used to facilitate transactions for many customers. This makes it difficult to verify whether all transactions are directly linked to the IRGC.
The stolen funds were sent to addresses containing some variation of the term "F*ckIRGCterrorists". Tether has "blacklisted" 39 of the 187 cryptocurrency addresses, preventing these wallets from engaging in any further USDT transactions and freezing $1.5 million in USDT held by these addresses.
Our brand name, along with others, has linked the Iranian crypto exchange Nobitex to the IRGC. Nobitex was allegedly used by sanctioned IRGC operatives accused of ransomware operations and targeting critical infrastructure. In December 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added cryptocurrency addresses to sanctions lists, which had received $332 million in USDT. These addresses were linked to Sa'id Ahmad Muhammad al-Jamal, who was sanctioned for funneling tens of millions of dollars to the Houthi militant group in Yemen (Ansarallah), in cooperation with senior officials in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Qods Force (IRGC-QF).
Over $90 million was stolen from Nobitex in June 2025 by a pro-Israel group. The use of the USDT stablecoin makes these funds prone to seizure due to their "blacklisting" functionality. When authorities and industry work together, they can ensure the safety and security of customers while maintaining the integrity of the digital asset ecosystem.
The ongoing cryptocurrency activity of the IRGC is a concern for global security. As the use of cryptocurrencies in financial transactions becomes more widespread, it is crucial for authorities to collaborate and utilise advanced blockchain analytics technology to trace and prevent illicit activities.
Read also:
- Quantum Computing Market in the Automotive Sector Forecast to Expand to $6,462.13 Million by 2034
- List of 2025's Billionaire Video Game Moguls Ranked by Fortune
- VinFast Accelerates Globally, Leveraging Vingroup's Technological and Financial Foundation
- Transformation of Decarbonization Objectives in the Iron Ore Pellets Sector
