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Cryptocurrencies could offer Iran way around sanctions

While the rise of cryptocurrencies potentially offers Iran a way around the web of sanctions, much remains to be done for the country to be able to fully take advantage of such an opportunity.
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Post-sanctions integration in the international financial sector has been one of the main challenges in the Iranian economy since the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in January 2016. As such, one could anticipate that Iranian officials would welcome the emergence of cryptocurrencies as a platform for international payments. Notwithstanding, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has not yet officially sanctioned the use of virtual currencies. According to official statements, initial studies are being carried out on the technical as well as legal aspects of using such currencies in Iran. Experts agree that there is a demand for using cryptocurrencies both as an investment vehicle as well as a payment method for international transactions. However, technical, legal, political and economic obstacles need to be tackled before such currencies can be utilized.

Iranian officials have a tendency to view new external phenomena with a strong degree of suspicion. Consequently, hesitation to endorse a new concept and take responsibility for it is the general pattern. Notwithstanding, Deputy Information and Communications Technology Minister Amir Hossein Davaee recently stated that his ministry had carried out a number of studies to prepare the infrastructure to use bitcoin inside the country. Incidentally, he also said that digital infrastructure was “part of the soft power of the country” and that the introduction of cryptocurrencies would be in Iran’s “general interest."

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