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The U.S. Treasury Department announced this week that it will include Iran's digital asset industry in the same sanctions framework it has long used to sanction the oil, banking, and financial sectors, further tightening Iran's ability to evade sanctions through cryptocurrency. This action is part of "Operation Economic Outcast," referred to as "Economic D-Day" against Iran, and represents a significant escalation of global risks for cryptocurrency enterprises.According to the new action, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has the authority to impose sanctions on individuals anywhere. OFAC stated that Iran is increasingly using cryptocurrency as a preferred tool to evade sanctions, supporting transactions related to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and insiders of the Iranian regime. Foreign exchanges, over-the-counter desks, payment processors, and infrastructure providers that knowingly support transactions in Iran's digital asset industry will face the risk of being added to the sanctions list and losing access to the U.S. financial system.OFAC also sanctioned members of a group within Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) accused of representing Iran in attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure and published their wallet addresses. The group's co-leader Behzad Mesri and members Keyvan Fayyaz Ghareh Blagh and Arman Kahzadian's Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency addresses have been added to the sanctions list. Previously, Bloomberg reported that Iran had launched Bitcoin-backed insurance services for shipping companies, and the U.S. also froze cryptocurrency assets related to the Iranian regime in July, most of which were Tether stablecoins.

According to i24NEWS, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Gulf Maritime Insurance Company and HormuzSafe Maritime Services Administration, which provide insurance policies approved by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz and accept payments in digital assets such as Bitcoin to evade sanctions.OFAC also sanctioned eight vessels of a shadow fleet transporting Iranian crude oil and petroleum products and their affiliated companies, including Well Sail, Lily, Al Salmi, Breeze V, Natsumi, Crystal, Nireta, and Yehope. Since the beginning of this year, OFAC has sanctioned over 100 vessels related to the Iranian shadow fleet.

According to Livecoins, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a new round of sanctions on July 13, freezing 13 cryptocurrency wallets and trust funds associated with the Cuban regime, involving multiple blockchain addresses including Tron (TRX), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Dash (DASH), Zcash (ZEC), as well as Bitcoin and Ethereum assets.The sanctioned individuals include Ukrainian citizen Dmytro Rashevskyi, Belarusian resident Yevgeniy Vladimirovich Silayev, as well as several state-owned institutions in Cuba such as the Cuban Association of Revolutionary Fighters and the Cuban Ministry of Tourism. OFAC also released FAQ 1262, advising all U.S. citizens to immediately cease all dealings with the entities on the above sanctions list.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added 134 cryptocurrency wallet addresses belonging to the terrorist organization ISIS-K to the Specially Designated Nationals sanctions list. The stablecoin issuer Tether has frozen the funds of 131 of these Tron addresses, while the remaining 3 sanctioned addresses are located on the Monero network. Since 2023, these 131 Tron addresses have received over $1.4 million in cryptocurrency donations and have sent out over $880,000.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against two money laundering networks associated with the Sinaloa drug cartel, involving more than a dozen individuals and entities. One of the networks is accused of converting cash from the sale of fentanyl and other drugs into cryptocurrency and transferring it to high-ranking members of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico.OFAC stated that the network laundered money through cash collection within the United States, cryptocurrency transfers, and Mexican brokers associated with the "Los Chapitos" faction. "Los Chapitos" is controlled by Ivan and Alfredo Guzman Salazar, the sons of "Shorty" Guzman. Sanctioned individuals include Armando de Jesus Ojeda Aviles, who is suspected of being responsible for the money laundering network, and Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas, another leader of a drug trafficking and money laundering organization.OFAC noted that the organization collects large amounts of cash in the United States, exchanges it for cryptocurrency, and sends it back to Mexico. Under the sanctions, the assets of the relevant individuals and entities within the United States will be frozen, and U.S. citizens

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has noted Iran's threats to shipping and its demands for "tolls" to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. These demands may include various payment methods, such as fiat currency, digital assets, offset arrangements, informal swaps, or other physical forms of payment, such as nominal charitable donations to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the Bonyad Mostazafan Foundation, or accounts of Iranian embassies.OFAC issued this warning to remind U.S. and non-U.S. entities that making payments to the Iranian regime or seeking passage guarantees carries sanctions risks, regardless of the payment method. Under U.S. sanctions regulations, U.S. entities and their foreign entities that are owned or controlled are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with the Iranian government, including providing or receiving services, unless exempted or authorized. Additionally, U.S. entities are also prohibited from engaging in transactions with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is listed on multiple sanctions lists and designated as a foreign terrorist organization.U.S. entities are also generally prohibited from trading with Iranian digital asset trading platforms, which are considered sanctioned Iranian financial institutions. Furthermore, non-U.S. entities that engage in unauthorized transactions with the Iranian government or IRGC may also face sanctions risks, including "secondary sanctions" on relevant financial institutions, restricting their access to the U.S. financial system. Conducting business with sanctioned Iranian digital asset trading platforms may also be viewed as supporting Iran's sanctioned financial system and could lead to sanctions. If relevant transactions result in U.S. entities (such as insurance companies, reinsurance firms, or financial institutions) violating sanctions regulations, non-U.S. entities may also face civil or criminal liability.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Cambodian Senator Kok An, accusing him of controlling "fraud parks" across the country, defrauding American victims through cryptocurrency investment scams.According to a statement released by OFAC on Thursday, in addition to Kok An, 28 other individuals and entities have been added to the sanctions list, all believed to be connected to his fraud network. This network is accused of luring victims into sending cryptocurrency assets under the guise of "high return investments." This action follows a raid by Cambodian police on two scam centers in the border city of Poipet. Previously, Kok An had been accused of operating scam bases in the area. OFAC stated that scammers typically gain victims' trust by establishing "friendships" or "romantic relationships," then guide them to participate in so-called cryptocurrency investment platforms, thereby defrauding them of funds, with the total amount involved reaching millions of dollars.It is noteworthy that some individuals involved in the scam activities are themselves victims of human trafficking, forced to engage in illegal activities under threats of violence. OFAC pointed out that these scam centers are often located in casinos or repurposed office parks, used not only for money laundering but also as bases for defrauding American citizens and committing human rights violations. Additionally, regulators have simultaneously shut down over 500 fraudulent website domains used for cryptocurrency investment scams, indicating that the U.S. crackdown on related criminal activities is intensifying.

Alex Thorn, the research director at Galaxy Digital, posted on the X platform that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list (SDN list) has historically involved 518 Bitcoin addresses, which have received a total of 249,814 BTC and sent 239,708 BTC, currently holding a net of about 9,306 BTC, worth approximately $707 million at current market prices.Thorn also stated that OFAC sanctions are only one of the means by which the U.S. intercepts illegal assets, and the CLARITY Act will further expand the Treasury's relevant powers.

According to CoinDesk, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will jointly issue proposed rules requiring stablecoin issuers to establish a comprehensive anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance system. Specific measures include freezing, intercepting, and rejecting suspicious transactions, as well as complying with the relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act.The rules emphasize an outcome-oriented approach, believing that financial institutions understand their own risks best. Issuers that establish a sound compliance system are typically exempt from enforcement actions. This move aims to implement the GENIUS Act passed last year, which is expected to take full effect in 2027.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against 6 individuals and 2 entities, accusing them of participating in a fraud scheme orchestrated by North Korea involving IT workers, with proceeds used to fund North Korean weapons programs.The sanctioned entities include the North Korean company Amnokgang Technology Development Company and the Vietnamese company Quangvietdnbg International Services Company Limited, whose CEO Nguyen Quang Viet is accused of laundering $2.5 million for the network through cryptocurrency. Do Phi Khanh, Hoang Van Nguyen, Yun Song Guk, Hoang Minh Quang, and York Louis Celestino Herrera are also sanctioned for their alleged involvement in the network. The fraud network operates in North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Spain.The sanctions freeze all assets of the aforementioned individuals and entities in the U.S. and prohibit them from engaging in any financial transactions or business dealings with the United States. OFAC will also add 21 cryptocurrency addresses on the Ethereum and Tron networks to the sanctions list. Chainalysis stated that the North Korean IT worker fraud scheme relies on stolen identities and fabricated identity information to secure positions in global companies and may implant malware in company networks to steal sensitive information.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against two Iranian individuals and several companies based in Hong Kong and the UAE.These individuals and companies are accused of transferring over $100 million in illegal oil sale proceeds through cryptocurrency since 2023, with funds flowing to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and the Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).These sanctions are part of the U.S. efforts to combat Iran's "shadow banking" system, which launders money through shell companies and cryptocurrency exchanges. Israel has also previously sanctioned 187 cryptocurrency wallets associated with the IRGC.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York ruled to prohibit discussing the history of OFAC sanctions against the privacy tool Tornado Cash in the upcoming trial of developer Roman Storm. The judge stated that explaining the sanctions process, which was implemented in 2022, revoked in March 2023, and deemed illegal by a Texas court, would create "cognitive dissonance," but left open the possibility for reconsideration if key evidence arises.

ChainCatcher news, Bitget Onchain trading has launched the MEME tokens Z, noface, and Crocs in the Solana and BNB Smart Chain ecosystems. Users can start trading in the on-chain trading section.Bitget Onchain trading aims to seamlessly connect CEX and DEX, providing users with a more convenient, efficient, and secure on-chain trading experience. Users can directly use their Bitget spot accounts (USDT/USDC) to trade popular on-chain assets. Currently, it supports popular public chains such as Solana (SOL), BNB Smart Chain (BSC), and Base.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has made a final ruling, determining that the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) acted unlawfully in sanctioning Tornado Cash, permanently prohibiting it from imposing sanctions on the mixer. This marks the conclusion of a two-year legal dispute with a victory for the privacy protocol party.Court documents show that although OFAC voluntarily removed Tornado Cash from the sanctions list in March 2024, Judge Robert Pitman noted its intention to potentially reimpose sanctions in the future and emphasized that "the ruling of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals must be enforced." The six plaintiff attorneys in the case had accused OFAC of attempting to evade judicial review through technical maneuvers.It is worth noting that two developers of Tornado Cash, Roman Storm and Roman Semenov, still face criminal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice, which remains on the OFAC sanctions list. The ruling only pertains to the protocol itself and does not involve judicial proceedings against the developers.

ChainCatcher news, according to the update announcement of the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on March 21, several Ethereum addresses related to Tornado Cash have been removed from the sanctions list.This update specifically mentions the Tornado Cash website and several Ethereum wallet addresses associated with it, including:0x12D66f87A04A9E220743712cE6d9bB1B5616B8Fc0x47CE0C6eD5B0Ce3d3A51fdb1C52DC66a7c3c29360x910Cbd523D972eb0a6f4cAe4618aD62622b39DbF0xA160cdAB225685dA1d56aa342Ad8841c3b53f2910xD4B88Df4D29F5CedD6857912842cff3b20C8CfaTornado Cash is a mixing protocol on Ethereum that allows users to conduct transactions anonymously. It was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for allegedly providing a money laundering channel for illegal activities, such as those associated with North Korean hackers.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court's ruling, determining that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) exceeded its authority in sanctioning the Tornado Cash immutable smart contracts, marking a significant victory for the protocol and its users. The panel of three judges noted in their opinion that while the Treasury has the authority to act against "property," the immutable nature of Tornado Cash's smart contracts means they cannot be controlled or owned, and therefore do not constitute property under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal stated that these smart contracts must now be removed from the sanctions list, allowing U.S. users to once again utilize this privacy-preserving protocol. The appellate court has instructed the Texas District Court to approve the partial summary judgment motion filed by plaintiffs-appellants Joseph Van Loon and others.

ChainCatcher news, the criminal gang "Tren De Aragua" from Venezuela has been designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as a transnational organization engaged in illegal activities such as kidnapping, human trafficking, and extortion. The U.S. Treasury also stated that the organization has, to some extent, utilized cryptocurrency to launder its criminal activities.