Iran’s Crypto Routes Passed Through Networks Linked To Trump Allies

CoinpaperMay 202 min readSingle source

The gist

5-point summary · 1 min

According to blockchain analytics cited by Reuters, more than $2.3 billion moved through the two networks since early 2023.
The findings drew attention because the same blockchain ecosystems later became closely connected to World Liberty Financial, the crypto project backed by Donald Trump and members of his family.
Researchers also alleged that the Central Bank of Iran transferred more than $500 million in the stablecoin Tether through the Tron network between late 2024 and mid-2025.
That power was demonstrated in April 2026, when more than $344 million connected to Iranian-linked addresses on Tron was frozen.
Sun filed a lawsuit against the company in 2026, accusing it of extortion, while World Liberty responded with a defamation claim.

$2.3$2.3 billion$500 million$344 millionApril 2026

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Iranian crypto exchange Nobitex reportedly processed billions of dollars through the Tron and BNB Chain networks while Tehran faced growing pressure from Western sanctions. According to blockchain analytics cited by Reuters, more than $2.3 billion moved through the two networks since early 2023. The findings drew attention because the same blockchain ecosystems later became closely connected to World Liberty Financial, the crypto project backed by Donald Trump and members of his family. Tron founder Justin Sun and Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao both emerged as major supporters of the project. Reuters said there is no evidence that Trump or his family knew how Nobitex users were utilizing the networks. Billions Reportedly Moved Through Tron And BNB Chain Data from blockchain analytics firms Arkham and Elliptic showed that Nobitex relied heavily on Tron and BNB Chain to move funds outside traditional banking systems restricted by sanctions. Researchers also alleged that the Central Bank of Iran transferred more than $500 million in the stablecoin Tether through the Tron network between late 2024 and mid-2025. Part of those funds reportedly flowed through Nobitex before being converted into other digital assets. Analysts said some transactions connected to users linked with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were also identified on the exchange. Nobitex denied having direct ties to the Iranian government and said any illicit transfers happened without management knowledge. Stablecoins Became Both A Compliance Tool And A Loophole The report highlighted the unusual role of Tether’s USDT stablecoin in global sanctions enforcement. Unlike Bitcoin, USDT is centrally managed, meaning Tether can freeze wallets tied to sanctioned entities when requested by authorities. That power was demonstrated in April 2026, when more than $344 million connected to Iranian-linked addresses on Tron was frozen. At the same time, blockchain infrastructure itself remains decentralized. As long as a wallet is not blacklisted, transactions can continue moving across networks like Tron without direct approval from issuers or governments. Analysts say this has turned stablecoins into both an enforcement mechanism and one of the most widely used tools for bypassing financial restrictions. Trump-Linked Crypto Ties Drew New Attention The Reuters investigation also examined growing connections between Binance, Tron and World Liberty Financial. In early 2025, Abu Dhabi-based investment fund MGX reportedly used World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin in a major Binance-related investment deal, helping legitimize the token within the broader crypto market. Meanwhile, relations between World Liberty and Justin Sun later deteriorated. Sun filed a lawsuit against the company in 2026, accusing it of extortion, while World Liberty responded with a defamation claim. Despite the legal dispute, Sun reportedly still controls billions of WLFI tokens connected to the project. Representatives for both Tron and BNB Chain defended the decentralized nature of their networks, arguing that public blockchains cannot realistically monitor every transaction made by users worldwide. The White House rejected suggestions that Trump’s business interests created any conflict involving Iranian financial activity, calling attempts to connect the president to Iran’s banking system “absurd.”

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Bitcoin stabilizes near $63,000, but reclaiming $64,000 is the real test Bitcoin is stabilizing near $63,100 after buyers defended the lower part of its recent range. That is constructive, but it is not yet a confirmed recovery. BTC must first overcome resistance near $63,175-$63,270, while reclaiming and holding $64,000-$64,095 remains the more important test. Key takeaways for Bitcoin traders and investors Current position: BTC is holding above the previous month’s lower value boundary near $62,380. Immediate resistance: Buyers need to clear $63,130-$63,175, followed by $63,247-$63,270. Main recovery test: A sustained reclaim of $64,000-$64,095 would carry much more weight than a temporary bounce near $63,000. Major support: The broader $62,380-$62,535 region remains the most important defended zone. Bullish confirmation: Repeated closes, consolidation or a successful retest above $64,095 would show that Bitcoin is beginning to establish higher accepted value. Data note: The latest daily, four-hour and one-hour candles were incomplete when this analysis was prepared. Exchange-specific Bitcoin prices may also differ slightly. I'm also closely monitoring the digital asset space after , putting immediate pressure on lower order-flow shelves as bulls fight to defend structural trendlines. Regulatory headwinds also resurfaced as the , injecting fresh institutional hesitation into active trading books. Meanwhile, broader risk sentiment showed divergence across asset classes as , underscoring rotational breadth away from mega-cap tech into small-cap momentum. Macro headwinds and geopolitical posturing remain front and center following headline chatter that , all while monetary policy uncertainty lingers after amidst baseline model variances. Why Bitcoin’s stabilization is constructive but incomplete Bitcoin recently fell to approximately $62,535, where the decline attracted meaningful buying. Price subsequently recovered toward $63,100, strengthening the case that buyers are willing to defend the lower part of the previous month’s trading range. What stands out to me, however, is how little upward progress followed that buying. Several periods showed positive buying pressure, but BTC remained concentrated around $63,050 and repeatedly struggled to extend beyond $63,150-$63,175. In simple terms, buyers have shown that they can slow the decline, but they have not yet shown that they can move Bitcoin into a clearly higher trading range. This is the difference between stabilization and recovery: Stabilization means sellers are no longer pushing price lower with the same ease. Recovery means buyers are lifting price, holding above resistance and shifting the market’s most active trading area higher. Bitcoin has shown the first condition. The second still needs confirmation. Why $62,380 and $64,095 matter The previous month’s value area provides a useful map of where most Bitcoin trading took place: Value Area Low near $62,380: The lower boundary of the previous month’s heavily traded range. Point of Control near $64,095: The price that attracted the most trading activity during the month. Value Area High near $65,050: The upper boundary of the previous month’s accepted range. BTC is currently about $720 above the monthly Value Area Low, but almost $1,000 below the monthly Point of Control. Holding above $62,380 tells us that demand inside the previous month’s range has not completely failed. Remaining below $64,095 tells us that buyers have not regained control of the broader value structure. This is also why $64,095 may be more important than $64,000 itself. The round number attracts attention, but $64,095 represents the previous month’s busiest price area. A brief move above $64,000 could still become another failed breakout. Holding above $64,095 would provide stronger evidence that the market is accepting higher prices again. As discussed in our previous analysis, Bitcoin’s created technical repair work for buyers. That repair is not complete simply because BTC has bounced from $62,535. Bitcoin support and resistance levels to watch What would strengthen the bullish Bitcoin scenario? Swing traders should have 3 key price levels: The Value Area Low (VAL), Point of Control (POC) and Value Area High (VAH) of the previous month. Together, these levels map the previous month’s main area of accepted trading: the VAL marks its lower boundary, the VAH its upper boundary, and the POC the price where the most volume traded. Traders watch them because holding inside the area suggests continued acceptance, while a sustained break outside it may signal that the market is searching for a new value zone. The first constructive step would be sustained trade above $63,175. Buyers would then need to clear and hold above $63,247-$63,270. That would improve the probability of a move toward $63,350 and, eventually, the much larger $64,000-$64,095 test. A more convincing recovery would include: Bitcoin reclaiming $64,000. Price moving above the monthly point of control near $64,095. A pullback successfully defending the reclaimed area. Trading activity beginning to concentrate above $64,095 rather than immediately slipping back below it. If that sequence develops, approximately $65,050 becomes the next major value-area objective. What this means: Acceptance is more than touching a level. It means price spends time above it, survives pullbacks and begins treating the higher area as support. What would weaken the stabilization attempt? Failure to hold $62,920-$62,800 would weaken the current short-term base and increase the probability of another test of $62,535. The more serious bearish development would be sustained trade below $62,380. That would place BTC outside the previous month’s accepted value area and suggest that the market may need to search for demand at lower prices. Traders should still distinguish between a brief move below $62,380 and genuine acceptance beneath it. Crypto markets can produce fast stop-runs through visible support before reversing. Repeated closes or continued trading below the level would carry more bearish significance than a momentary sweep. What Bitcoin traders may consider watching Different traders may use these levels in different ways, at their own discretion: Short-term breakout confirmation: Watch whether BTC can break above $63,175 and successfully retest it, with $63,247-$63,270 providing the next validation area. Support-zone reaction: If BTC returns to $62,380-$62,535, watch whether buyers defend it again or whether selling begins to hold below the zone. Broader recovery confirmation: Treat $64,000-$64,095 as the decisive recovery test instead of assuming that every bounce from $63,000 marks a durable bottom. Because Bitcoin trades continuously, weekend conditions can sometimes involve thinner liquidity and less reliable breakouts. Confirmation through time, repeated closes or a successful retest may therefore be more useful than reacting to the first price spike. What should Bitcoin traders watch next? Bitcoin has defended the lower part of the previous month’s value area, but the rebound still needs to prove itself. The immediate challenge is to move beyond $63,175 and $63,270. The much larger test remains $64,000-$64,095. A successful reclaim would indicate that Bitcoin is returning toward the center of the previous month’s accepted value rather than merely bouncing from support. Until that happens, Bitcoin may be stabilizing, but it is not yet showing a fully confirmed bullish recovery. This analysis presents conditional market scenarios and opinions (not promises) at investingLive.com, not a guarantee of future performance. Traders should consider volatility, position size and their own risk limits before acting. This article was written by Itai Levitan at investinglive.com.

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