The Central Bank of Iran accumulated over $500 million in USDT through digital asset markets last year, using these funds primarily to support the Iranian rial’s exchange rate and facilitate international trade.
According to a research report released by blockchain intelligence firm Elliptic on January 21, 2026, the Central Bank of Iran acquired at least $507 million in USDT over the past year. Part of these funds were paid in UAE dirhams in April and May 2025, processed through an entity called Modex.
01 Stablecoin Breakthrough: The Central Bank of Iran’s USDT Strategy
Over the past year, the Central Bank of Iran acquired at least $507 million in USDT through a complex cross-border payment network.
Most of this USDT was transferred to Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and used to support the rial’s exchange rate and settle some international trade transactions.
By the end of 2025, the Iranian rial hit a historic low against the US dollar, with the exchange rate plunging to 1,400,000:1. Food prices soared by more than 70% year-over-year, triggering a nationwide economic crisis.
In response, the Central Bank of Iran implemented a series of emergency measures, including redenominating the currency (with plans to remove four zeros) and making significant stablecoin purchases to stabilize the exchange rate.
02 Global Trend: Why Central Banks Are Turning to Digital Stablecoins
Worldwide, stablecoins have become a crucial bridge between the traditional financial system and the crypto world.
In 2025, BTC was the most popular cryptocurrency for payments, accounting for 22.1% of all crypto transactions, followed by USDT at 16.6%.
This trend isn’t unique to Iran. U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman recently unveiled the latest draft of the crypto market structure bill, reflecting governments’ growing focus on digital assets.
The global stablecoin market cap has reached $260.728 billion, representing a significant share relative to the U.S. GDP in 2024.
03 Market Data: USDT’s Latest Performance on Gate
According to the latest market data as of January 22, 2026, USDT’s price on Gate remains stable. Yahoo Finance reports the USDT/USD price at $0.999110, demonstrating the price-pegging characteristic expected of stablecoins.
Gate offers a wide range of USDT trading pairs, including major cryptocurrencies like ETH/USDT and BTC/USDT. As per Gate’s market data, ETH/USDT is currently priced at $3,004.75, with a 24-hour increase of 1.69%.
Data shows that Gate’s contract points airdrop system has completed 67 rounds, with 264,000 participants and total airdrop rewards equivalent to about 3.7 million USDT.
These figures highlight USDT’s widespread use and high liquidity within the crypto ecosystem.
04 National Strategy: Stablecoins as Tools for Financial Stability
The Central Bank of Iran’s actions reveal a new role for stablecoins in the international financial system: a tool to bypass traditional financial sanctions.
As digitalization advances, both commercial bank money and central bank money are expected to exist in digital form, continuing to serve as the anchor of the monetary system.
Argentinian fintech company Pomelo announced the completion of a $55 million Series C funding round, led by Kaszek and Insight Partners, with participation from Index Ventures.
These developments indicate that emerging markets are actively exploring digital financial solutions to address currency volatility and economic uncertainty.
05 Gate: A Key Global Platform for Digital Asset Trading
As a leading global digital asset trading platform, Gate provides users with secure and convenient USDT trading services.
Gate continually rolls out innovative products and services, including its contract points airdrop system and perpetual contract trading, with total airdrop rewards equivalent to about 3.7 million USDT.
Gate is also committed to regulatory compliance, maintaining communication with regulators worldwide to ensure the platform operates in line with international standards. This compliance-driven strategy has made Gate a trusted platform for users around the globe.
For investors looking to participate in digital asset trading, Gate offers a wide selection of trading pairs, deep liquidity, and advanced security measures—making it an ideal platform for trading USDT and related cryptocurrencies.
Looking Ahead
With progress on crypto market structure legislation and the gradual refinement of global regulatory frameworks for digital assets, the role of stablecoins in the international financial system is set to become even clearer.
The Central Bank of Iran’s case not only demonstrates the practical value of stablecoins in extreme economic conditions, but also signals that digital currencies may become a key component of the future international financial system.
