Donald Trump's administration has frozen $344 million in cryptocurrencies that U.S. authorities claim are linked to Iran, as part of an effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran. According to CNN reports, the measure is part of a broader strategy to strengthen sanctions at a time when diplomatic efforts remain stalled and the international situation continues to be tense. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that authorities have taken action against several digital wallets connected to Iran. "We will follow the flow of money that Tehran is trying to move out of the country and target any financial channels linked to the regime," he said. U.S. officials say Iran's Central Bank has used increasingly sophisticated methods to conceal its involvement in cross-border transactions using digital assets, aimed at facilitating international trade under sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department is in constant communication with American and international financial institutions, including cryptocurrency exchanges, sources said. Countries under heavy sanctions, such as Iran, Russia, and North Korea, are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies, which are less regulated than traditional banks, to generate revenue and bypass restrictions. According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, Iran's cryptocurrency holdings reached $7.8 billion in 2025, marking a faster growth rate than in 2024. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is said to have held about half of these holdings in the last quarter of 2025, "reflecting their dominant position in the Iranian economy," according to Chainalysis.