BTC to let the oil pass. While the United States and the‘Iran have just concluded a two-week ceasefireTehran announces a measure that could affect global oil tradebut also the cryptosphère. According to information relayed by the Financial Times (FT), the Iranian regime plans to impose “transit fee” en Bitcoin (BTC) for every barrel of oil transported across the Strait of Hormuz. This decision aims to circumvent international sanctions and strengthen the mullahs’ control over this strategic sea route.
- Iran has imposed a Bitcoin “transit fee” for every barrel of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a move never before seen in the global oil trade.
- This cryptocurrency toll measure aims to circumvent international sanctions, highlighting the strategic use of cryptocurrencies on the global geopolitical scene.
Bitcoin: the toll currency for oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz?
According to details revealed by the Financial Times, the Islamic Republic of Iran would require a payment of 1 dollar in Bitcoin for each barrel of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships will need to declare their cargo via email to Iranian authorities and, once approved, make payment in BTC within minutes.
Grâce à la résistance à la censure innate to Bitcoin, and in the very words of an Iranian official cited by the FT, these toll payments in BTC guarantee that “ fees cannot be forfeited due to sanctions ».
Hamid Hosseinispokesperson for the Union of Exporters of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products of Iran, confirmed that these cryptocurrency tolls will be applied to ships loaded with oil (and therefore not to empty tankers and other goods a priori). The official stated objective is to “ monitor what enters and leaves the strait to ensure that these two weeks are not used to transfer weapons.”
28 BTC per tanker: a geopolitical maneuver based on cryptocurrency
Because of 2 million barrels of petroleum pétrolier VLCC (Very Large Crude Carriers), and therefore 2 million dollars in tolls, these are 28 bitcoins what would Iran reap at each pass (at the current price of approximately $71,450 per BTC).
This decision comes as Iran seeks to consolidate its control on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery through which approximately 20% of global oil consumption. The use of cryptocurrencies for international transactions is not a first for Iran, which had already explored this route to circumvent sanctions which limit its access to traditional banking systems.
However, according to a message from the Ministry of Defense United Arab EmiratesIran would have déjà violé this young ceasefire by launching, on April 8, 2026, 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones towards Emirati territory, all fortunately interceptés by the UAE air defenses, even if 3 minor injuries were reported.
Let’s hope that this is just an isolated hiccup, and that Iran will now respect its part of the ceasefire. In any case, we clearly see here that, while Iran and the Israeli-American allies continue their diplomatic and economic standoff, Bitcoin becomes a real strategic toolat the very heart of geopolitics. This circumvention of international sanctions by cryptocurrencies has also been used by Russia, which is increasingly legalizing the Bitcoin sector in recent years. The States have really started to understand the incredible potential of the invention of Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin now seems replace gold as an international currency in times of conflict!
