- Iran’s crypto ecosystem reached $7.78 billion in 2025, pushed by mining and stablecoins.
- Russia signed a regulation allowing court-ordered seizure of Bitcoin and different digital currencies.
- Financial institution of Korea urges industrial banks to guide received stablecoin issuance below regulation.
World crypto coverage shifted as Russia accredited court-ordered cryptocurrency confiscations whereas Iran’s digital asset ecosystem reached $7.78 billion in 2025.
Chainalysis confirmed the expansion, and President Vladimir Putin signed a seizure regulation. Regulators in South Korea, Japan, and China additionally launched new digital asset measures.
Iran Expands Crypto Operations as Russia Formalizes Seizures
Iran has constructed a parallel crypto economic system centered on Bitcoin mining and stablecoins. In keeping with Chainalysis, addresses linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accounted for greater than 50% of inflows. These addresses obtained over $3 billion throughout 2025. Elliptic reported that Iran’s central financial institution accrued a minimum of $507 million in USDT this yr.
Asia’s weekly TOP10 crypto information: Iran’s Crypto Ecosystem Reaches $7.78 Billion in 2025, Russia Permits Courts to Confiscate Cryptocurrencies in Felony Instances, Financial institution of Korea Once more Requires Business Banks to Lead KRW Stablecoin Issuance and Top10 Information. https://t.co/d4baY1NBnC pic.twitter.com/fR2oBr23Ch
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 1, 2026
The stablecoin holdings have been probably used to stabilize the rial and settle commerce transactions. The Iranian authorities mines Bitcoin at an estimated price of $1,300 per coin and sells it at market charges.
Current army strikes by the US and Israel may have an effect on Iran’s energy grid. Bitcoin mining depends upon regular electrical energy provide, and disruptions may scale back manufacturing capability.
President Putin signed a regulation defining digital currencies as “intangible belongings” and allowing court-ordered seizures in legal circumstances. Legislation enforcement could confiscate {hardware} wallets and switch funds to designated secure addresses. The laws establishes procedures for dealing with, storing, and controlling seized cryptocurrencies throughout investigations.
Stablecoin Regulation Advances in South Korea and China
The Financial institution of Korea renewed its name for industrial banks to guide won-pegged stablecoin issuance, calling them “currency-like substitutes.” It warned that non-public issuance may have an effect on financial coverage and overseas trade stability and bypass reporting guidelines. The financial institution advisable bank-led issuance first, with non-bank participation following danger evaluations.
South Korean media reported gradual progress on stablecoin laws. In the meantime, Tether and Circle have elevated hiring efforts within the nation.
The upcoming Digital Belongings Fundamental Act is anticipated to require abroad issuers to determine native branches. Elsewhere, China’s Supreme Individuals’s Courtroom introduced plans to check judicial responses to monetary circumstances involving digital currencies.
The courtroom may even work on judicial interpretations associated to securities violations and firm regulation. A report from Artemis and Stablecon confirmed sturdy progress in stablecoin flows.
B2B stablecoin funds rose greater than 730% yr on yr in 2025. Complete annual fee quantity reached $390 billion, with 60% linked to B2B transactions. China ranked second globally in stablecoin inflows, receiving round $71 billion month-to-month.
Japan Strengthens AML and Expands Tokenization
Japan’s Monetary Providers Company will help private-sector AML pilot trials from March to Could 2026. The undertaking, submitted by Hitachi, consists of crypto exchanges and blockchain analytics corporations.
Individuals will check an information-sharing framework for suspicious pockets addresses. Japan’s largest safety token platform, Progmat, plans emigrate over $2 billion in tokenized belongings to an Avalanche L1 community.
The migration consists of actual property and company bonds. The combination is anticipated to complete by June 2026. Within the company sector, DAIDO LIMITED accredited a Bitcoin buy of as much as 1 billion yen.
The corporate mentioned Bitcoin could assist hedge inflation and yen depreciation. It described Bitcoin as having restricted provide and low correlation with conventional belongings.
South Korea’s Nationwide Tax Service additionally confronted a safety incident. A information picture revealed a {hardware} pockets restoration phrase, and about $4.8 million in tokens have been later transferred. Specialists mentioned publicity of a restoration phrase means lack of pockets management. Throughout the area, governments are tightening oversight whereas digital asset adoption continues to increase.