Crypto Restrictions in Iran: What You Need to Know About Trading and Access

When it comes to crypto restrictions in Iran, a set of government-imposed rules that limit or block access to cryptocurrency networks and exchanges. Also known as Iranian crypto bans, these restrictions are among the strictest in the world, designed to control capital flight and bypass U.S. sanctions. Despite this, Iranians continue to use Bitcoin and other digital assets—not because they trust them, but because they have no other choice.

Why does this matter? Because Iranian cryptocurrency users, millions of ordinary citizens facing inflation, wage freezes, and frozen bank accounts rely on crypto to buy food, pay for medicine, and send money abroad. They’re not traders. They’re survivalists. And they’re using peer-to-peer platforms, VPNs, and local brokers to get around state blocks. Meanwhile, crypto sanctions Iran, a layer of international financial pressure that makes it hard for Iranian users to connect with global exchanges means even legitimate platforms like Binance or Kraken are off-limits. That’s why you’ll see so many posts here about shady exchanges like GCOX or CBX—people are desperate, and scams follow desperation.

What you won’t find in official reports is how deeply blockchain has woven itself into daily life. From underground mining rigs in Tehran basements to Telegram-based P2P markets where people trade Bitcoin for Iranian rials, the system works—even if it’s illegal. And while the government talks about creating its own digital currency, most Iranians don’t trust it. They trust Bitcoin because it doesn’t need a bank. They trust it because it can’t be frozen. They trust it because it’s the only thing that still moves when everything else stops.

Below, you’ll find real reviews of exchanges Iranians actually use—some risky, some dead, some barely hanging on. You’ll see how airdrops like VDR or LFW x CMC are being used as gateways into crypto. You’ll learn why platforms like Cronus Finance or THENA FUSION are popping up in search results—not because they’re legitimate, but because they’re the only ones still accepting Iranian traffic. And you’ll see how one wrong click can wipe out a family’s savings. This isn’t speculation. It’s survival.