PANews reported on January 15 that according to Nobsbitcoin, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) suddenly blocked the payment gateway of cryptocurrency exchanges without prior notice or any preparation, forcing people to use the depreciating national currency. The blockade was taken after the central bank recently froze the bank accounts of cryptocurrency exchanges and suspended payment processing services in November last year. These measures stem from concerns about speculation in the USDT market and money laundering risks.

The central bank’s action reportedly specifically targets Iranian rial payment channels used by digital currency exchanges, but withdrawal functions remain available. Related reports claim that the Iranian government is developing a “cryptocurrency centralized management system similar to Shaparak in the banking system” in order to strengthen control over the cryptocurrency market through centralized channels.

Last month, the Central Bank of Iran approved the Cryptocurrency Policy and Regulatory Framework, confirming its position as the country's main regulator of the cryptocurrency industry. The framework aims to authorize cryptocurrency brokers and custodians to operate under the supervision of the central bank, ensuring that they comply with anti-money laundering (AML) laws, counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regulations and tax regulations. It is also reported that the Iranian government has banned the advertising of cryptocurrency mining machines in response to the current energy crisis.