The Use of Cryptocurrency in Geopolitics: Iran Offers Heavy Weapons for Crypto Payments
Iran Proposes Official Sale of Heavy Weapons in Cryptocurrency
Iran has crossed a new threshold in using cryptocurrencies for geopolitical purposes. According to documents analyzed by the Financial Times, Tehran is now proposing to sell advanced weapons systems to foreign states accepting crypto payments. An initiative aimed at bypassing Western financial sanctions that stifle traditional payment channels.
Missiles and Drones Payable in Crypto
This offer comes from the Ministry of Defence Export Center, better known as Mindex, the public body responsible for selling Iranian arms internationally. For nearly a year, their commercial documents indicate that payments can be made in cryptocurrencies, as well as through barter agreements or Iranian rials.
The catalog offered is far from symbolic. It includes Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, Shahid Soleimani-class warships, and short-range air defense systems. Weapons that have already been observed in several conflict zones, particularly through Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East, according to Western and UN reports.
A Bold Move for a Sanctioned State
If states and non-state actors have already discreetly used cryptocurrencies to bypass financial restrictions, the Iranian case marks a break. This is one of the first times an state has publicly expressed its willingness to accept digital assets as a means of payment for strategic military equipment.
The Mindex website, available in multiple languages, claims business relations with 35 countries. It also specifies that certain conditions for the use of weapons, especially in the event of war with another state, must be accepted by the buyer, while remaining “negotiable“.
An Infrastructure Designed for Financial Evasion
The system is structured. Mindex operates through an online portal and a dedicated chatbot to guide potential buyers. An FAQ section addresses the issue of sanctions head-on, stating that Iran’s general policy allows contracts to be executed unhindered and ensures the delivery of equipment.
The authenticity of the site has been confirmed through several technical checks. The infrastructure is hosted on an Iranian domestic cloud already under US sanctions, and is seen by Washington as close to the country’s intelligence services.
Crypto as a Tool for Economic Survival
This initiative is part of a broader trend. Heavily sanctioned states are increasingly using cryptocurrencies to maintain sensitive commercial flows. US authorities have already accused Iran of using digital assets to sell oil and move hundreds of millions of dollars out of the traditional banking system.
In September, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on several individuals linked to the Revolutionary Guards, accused of setting up a “shadow banking” network based on cryptos. Russia has also been targeted for similar practices.
A Strong Signal in a Context of Increased Tensions
This revelation comes as diplomatic pressure on Tehran intensifies, particularly regarding its nuclear program. Over the summer, several European powers initiated a mechanism aimed at reinstating international sanctions.
For cryptocurrencies, the message is harsh but clear. Digital assets are no longer just an alternative or speculative financial tool. They are becoming, for some states, a strategic infrastructure for bypassing the international financial order. A development with far-reaching consequences, both for regulation and for the political perception of the crypto ecosystem.
