Iran’s Crypto Economy Hit $7.8 Billion in 2025 as Protests Fueled Bitcoin Use: Chainalysis Report

According to a detailed analysis conducted by blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis, Iran’s crypto economy experienced explosive growth, reaching an estimated $7.8 billion in transaction volume by the end of 2025. This surge positions the Islamic Republic as a significant player in the global decentralized finance landscape, primarily driven by domestic political upheaval and severe economic isolation.

The data indicates a dramatic acceleration of peer-to-peer (P2P) Bitcoin (BTC) transactions. Analysts attribute this phenomenon directly to the widespread civil protests that characterized the preceding years. As the government tightened control over traditional banking systems and frequently imposed nationwide internet blackouts to stifle dissent, citizens increasingly adopted cryptocurrencies—especially Bitcoin—as a censorship-resistant medium for transferring funds, preserving savings against hyperinflation, and financing decentralized activism.

Chainalysis tracked a sharp increase in volumes routed through non-custodial decentralized exchanges and local P2P platforms, bypassing official government monitoring channels and international sanctions regimes. The Iranian Rial’s sustained depreciation, exacerbated by crippling U.S. sanctions, has made stablecoins and Bitcoin highly attractive vehicles for maintaining purchasing power, particularly for the younger, tech-savvy population.

Furthermore, the report highlights the critical role of crypto in facilitating necessary international trade and remittances, which are largely blocked via conventional SWIFT channels. While a portion of the transaction volume is attributed to state-sponsored entities or evasion efforts, the vast majority of the $7.8 billion spike is derived from retail users and activists seeking economic freedom and operational continuity outside the state’s control structure. This trend underscores crypto’s dual utility in Iran: enabling both economic survival under sanctions and serving as a crucial tool for political resistance.

Source: Iran’s Crypto Economy Hit $7.8 Billion in 2025 as Protests Fueled Bitcoin Use: Chainalysis