The Finance Minister noted that the regime transfers between $400 million to $500 million monthly to circumvent sanctions. Scott Bessent emphasized that the US is freezing accounts en masse and seizing crypto wallets, with the owners often unaware of these actions. A month ago, he mentioned the confiscation of $500 million in crypto assets from Iran, indicating a significant increase in the rate of confiscations. Bessent noted that their actions reduce the willingness to engage with the regime. Previously, Iran announced it would accept BTC for passage through the Hormuz Strait. In August 2025, Bessent stated that the US would not purchase BTC for a BTC reserve. Instead, they would continue using confiscated assets to replenish it. He reaffirmed this statement in January 2026.