美国财政部制裁BitBank，打击与伊朗相关的10亿美元加密货币资金流动

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on BitBank, targeting a billion-dollar flow of Iranian-linked crypto assets

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions on cryptocurrency exchange BitBank. The agency determined that BitBank was owned by Babak Zanjani, who had previously been sanctioned by the United States. According to Treasury officials, Janzani used BitBank to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) between June and July.

OFAC extends regulatory scope to crypto infrastructure

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has updated its list of sanctioned entities to include, in addition to BitBank, its developer Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company and several people associated with Janzani. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the measures are intended to send a warning to the entire crypto industry: U.S. sanctions do not only target direct violations, but also extend to digital infrastructure and intermediaries that serve illegal activities.

Besent pointed out: "Today's designation of Iran's digital asset infrastructure clearly demonstrates that attempts to use cryptocurrencies to fund the Iranian regime are not beyond OFAC's reach." He further warned on social media X that the Treasury Department would take sanctions against those who violate sanctions.

Zhanzani and his criminal network background

巴比克·詹扎尼早已是国际制裁当局熟知的对象。金融诚信研究所将其描述为一名金融家，他曾在伊朗被判处死刑，后获减刑。据报道，詹扎尼曾重建一家位于英国的加密货币交易所，并利用基于库存照片虚构的高管身份进行运作。在当局介入之前，该操作 reportedly 转移了约10亿美元与IRGC相关的资产。财政部官员认为，詹扎尼随后建立了一个更广泛的数字资产公司网络，以协助IRGC进行洗钱活动。

名词解释：OFAC（美国外国资产控制办公室）是美国财政部下属的金融情报和执行机构，负责管理和执行针对特定外国国家、个人和实体的经济及贸易制裁。

“经济放逐”行动扩大制裁版图

针对BitBank的行动是“经济放逐”（Operation Economic Outcast）的一部分，该行动于8月24日启动。据TRM Labs报道，这一持续进行的努力已查明近60个与伊朗有关的实体、个人和船只，执法行动涵盖行政命令13902下的数字资产、技术、黄金、航空和航运等领域。

近期关于数字资产的裁决标志着OFAC的重大政策转变。Chainalysis指出，现在在伊朗数字资产领域运营的个人或企业，无论是否与恐怖组织或指定方有关联，都面临被制裁的风险。这一新框架提高了服务于该领域的交易所、场外交易柜台和底层基础设施提供商的合规门槛。

外国中介机构和银行面临的风险

OFAC向参与Wallex、Nobitex、Aban Tether和Ramzinex等受制裁交易所的外国金融机构（包括美国境外的机构）发出了具体警告。如果被发现为受美国法规限制的一方进行交易，这些机构将面临被制裁的风险，并可能失去访问美国代理银行账户的权限。

Iran's sanctions-circumvention activities often involve complex structures, including family member accounts, shell companies, currency changers, shadow tanker operations, and cryptocurrency exchanges. Experts point out that relying solely on screening digital wallets leaves significant loopholes, as circumvention mechanisms increasingly operate outside the view of compliance teams that only monitor cryptocurrency addresses.

Shifting capital flows and the dominance of stablecoins

Stronger U.S. enforcement may lead to a diversion of capital channels rather than a complete disappearance. Chainalysis reported that in the fourth quarter of 2025, IRGC-related addresses accounted for more than half of the value received by the Iranian crypto industry, reflecting annual transaction volume of more than US$3 billion.

The 2026 Cryptocurrency-Related Crime Report released by TRM Labs shows that in 2025, stablecoins contributed to nearly 95% of capital inflows to sanctioned entities and jurisdictions. Between 2024 and 2025, centralized exchange trading activity involving these parties fell by nearly 30%, while traffic through decentralized or high-risk, KYC-less (Know Your Customer) services doubled.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) found in its 2026 update that while 83% of 109 jurisdictions have adopted "travel rules," only 40% have implemented active enforcement or supervisory actions. Incomplete or inconsistent regulation provides an opportunity for sanctioned activity to shift to lower-compliance jurisdictions or intermediaries with less regulation, despite continued U.S. pressure.