Iranian Crypto Exchanges Record $10 Million in Outflows As Geopolitical Tensions Rise

According to Chainalysis, following the February 28, 2026, US-Israeli airstrikes, Iranian crypto exchanges saw a sharp surge in outflows.

Between February 28 and March 2, 2026, exchanges saw roughly $10.3 million in cryptoasset outflows.

Why it matters:

The spike reflects previous trends, in which crypto trading volumes and on-chain activity in Iran typically increase during major geopolitical events and domestic unrest.
Previously, Chainalysis suggested that cryptocurrency has become an “element of resistance” for many Iranians.

The details:

Chainalysis recorded hourly outflows approaching or exceeding $2 million after the February 28 airstrikes.
Furthermore, the blockchain analytics firm Elliptic noted that Iran’s largest crypto exchange, Nobitex, saw a 700% increase in outgoing transaction volumes.
The recent outflows originated from several of Iran’s largest exchanges. They included transfers ranging from small amounts to those exceeding $1 million, suggesting a mix of participant types.
Funds flowed to overseas mainstream exchanges, domestic Iranian exchanges, and unidentified “other wallets.”
One plausible explanation is retail users moving funds off centralized exchanges into self-custodial wallets as a hedge against instability and potential restrictions.
Another explanation is exchange-level liquidity reshuffling to obscure wallet identification and mitigate sanctions exposure.
Lastly, a third possibility is state-aligned actors leveraging domestic exchanges to evade sanctions, conduct cross-border transactions, or launder funds during heightened geopolitical tension.

The big picture:

Iran’s crypto market grew sharply in 2025 compared with the year before, reaching $7.78 billion.
Tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have continued to rise over the past few days.