The Iranian rial plunged to a record low, spurring protests and driving many citizens to use stablecoins to protect savings and access foreign currency. Analysts say a near-term recovery looks unlikely without a clear economic plan.
Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty this week in a New York court after U.S. authorities seized him in Caracas, and the case has prompted fresh questions about whether his regime used cryptocurrencies to move money or evade sanctions.
Cut off from traditional dollar rails, Venezuela is increasingly using dollar-pegged stablecoins for payments, remittances and savings. The shift highlights stablecoins' practical role as cross-border payment rails while raising regulatory and compliance questions.
Western sanctions tied to Russia led to a bond freeze that cut Telegram off from $500 million in funding, raising immediate questions about the company’s financing and project plans. The development underscores broader market risk from sanctions on crypto-adjacent firms.
The U.S. is preparing to freeze and seize Venezuela’s Bitcoin holdings after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, who faces narco-terrorism charges in a New York federal court. The move could mark a major test of how state-held crypto is treated under U.S. sanctions and asset-forfeiture law.
The FBI has placed Sim Hyon-sop on its wanted list, accusing him of laundering cryptocurrency on behalf of North Korea. The move is part of a broader international investigation into DPRK-linked sanctions evasion.
Beijing announced new sanctions on several American companies, escalating U.S.–China tensions. Bitcoin slid as investors pared back risk positions on the news.
Chainalysis reports North Korea–linked groups stole roughly $2 billion in crypto in 2025, continuing a shift toward fewer but larger attacks. The pattern echoes 2024’s $1.4 billion Bybit breach and increases pressure on exchanges and regulators.
A TRM Labs report finds an informal peer-to-peer cryptocurrency market has become a core part of Venezuela’s economy, potentially undermining U.S. sanctions. The analysis says crypto should be factored into U.S. strategy as President Trump escalates tensions with Caracas.
Huione Pay announced a suspension of operations following a surge in withdrawals after new U.S. sanctions, amid allegations of money laundering and ties to crypto scams. The move raises immediate liquidity and custody concerns for users and counterparties.