Iran crypto outflows surge 700% after US-Israel strikes as capital flees offshore
Crypto outflows from Iran's largest exchange surged 700% following US-Israel strikes, signaling capital flight offshore.Summary
Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic detected a 700% surge in digital asset withdrawals from Nobitex, Iran's dominant crypto exchange, immediately following the initial US-Israel military strikes on Iranian territory. This spike suggests Iranian users converted local currency (rials) into digital assets and moved them to external wallets to bypass conventional banking oversight, indicating capital flight. Nobitex, which handled $7.2B in crypto transactions in 2025 and has faced scrutiny regarding ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has previously been linked to the central bank's efforts to support the weakening currency. This pattern of capital movement mirrors previous surges seen during mass protests and US sanctions announcements, reinforcing the role of digital assets as a mechanism to circumvent financial restrictions.
(Source：Crypto Briefing)