Iran Scammers Demand Bitcoin, USDT for Transit Through Strait of Hormuz: Report

Blockchain ekosistemine dair önemli bir haber gündeme geldi. Iran Scammers Demand Bitcoin, USDT for Transit Through Strait of Hormuz: Report Price data by News Coins Iran Scammers Demand Bitcoin, USDT for Transit Through Strait of Hormuz: Report Fake crypto clearance demands are targeting ships stranded at Hormuz as the Iran conflict enters its third month. By Vince Dioquino Edited by Stephen Graves Apr 21, 2026 Apr 21, 2026 4 min read Iranian rial and Bitcoin. Image: Shutterstock/ Create an account to save your articles.

Add on Google Add as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. In brief Scammers impersonating Iran are demanding payment in BTC or USDT from vessels stranded at Hormuz. MARISKS believes at least one vessel fired at on Saturday had paid the fraudulent fee.

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Experts warn any crypto transit payment carries sanctions liability, regardless of recipient. Scammers impersonating Iranian authorities are reportedly targeting shipping companies with fraudulent payment demands to be made through Bitcoin and Tether's USDT stablecoin , promising safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Greek maritime risk firm MARISKS warned Monday via that unknown actors impersonating Iranian authorities had sent shipping companies messages demanding cryptocurrency payments for transit clearance in the passage, which has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.

"After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be ⁠paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time,” the message from the unknown actors reads, as cited by MARISKS. MARISKS said it believes at least one vessel fired on by Iranian boats Saturday, while attempting to exit the strait during a brief reopening, had paid the fraudulent fee.

has reached out to the firm for comment and will update this article should they respond. The alert comes weeks after Iranian officials began requiring tolls for passage to be made in Bitcoin, to ensure the fees “can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions. ” But whether Iran's crypto toll system ever actually operated at scale remains disputed.

Days into the state’s announcement, blockchain forensics firm TRM Labs told that no on-chain data indicating crypto was being used for Hormuz transit fees have been seen. In this case, the lack of on-chain evidence has not made the threat any less real for stranded vessels.

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