Core Viewpoint - The UK’s Companies House is moving to dissolve Zedxion Exchange Ltd., a cryptocurrency platform linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) due to allegations of processing funds for the organization [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The dissolution follows U.S. sanctions imposed in January by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which designated Zedxion and its related entity Zedcex for their alleged role in helping Iran evade sanctions [2]. - Companies House stated that the shutdown was due to misleading or false information in the company's incorporation application [3]. Group 2: Financial Activities - Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs reported that Zedxion and Zedcex processed approximately $1 billion in funds linked to the IRGC, which constituted about 56% of their total transaction volume [4]. - The share of IRGC-linked transactions peaked at 87% in 2024, with flows reaching around $619.1 million, before declining to about 48% in 2025 as other activities increased [4]. Group 3: Company Background - Zedxion Exchange Ltd. was incorporated in May 2021, with an individual named "Babak Morteza" listed as a director, who shares identifying details with Babak Zanjani, an Iranian businessman accused of sanctions evasion [5]. - Babak Morteza was removed as a person with significant control in August 2022, and Elizabeth Newman was appointed as a director the same month [5]. Group 4: Links to Sanctioned Individuals - Babak Zanjani was previously sanctioned by the U.S. and EU in 2013 for laundering billions of dollars in oil revenue for Iranian state entities, including the IRGC [6]. - Zanjani was convicted in Iran in 2016 for embezzlement of state oil funds and had his death sentence commuted in 2024 after repaying funds [6]. - By 2025, Zanjani re-emerged with connections to regime-aligned economic projects and advocated for blockchain-based financial systems in Iran [7].

Core Viewpoint - Binance is under scrutiny for its compliance program amid allegations of facilitating Iranian sanctions evasion, with investigations revealing significant fund flows linked to Iran through its platform [1][2][6]. Compliance and Investigations - The U.S. Senate has initiated inquiries into Binance following reports of internal investigators being fired after uncovering over $1 billion in transactions linked to Iran [2][3]. - Binance claims that the departures of investigators were unrelated to the discovery of these transactions and asserts its commitment to a rigorous compliance program [2][4]. - Investigators found that a 79-year-old Chinese resident's VIP account transferred $439 million in digital tokens to wallets connected to sanctioned Iranian organizations [6][12]. Transaction Patterns - The investigation revealed that the cluster of Iran-linked wallets, referred to as Entity A, received a total of $1.7 billion from various Binance accounts, with significant portions sent to Iranian crypto exchanges and wallets linked to terrorist groups [12][17]. - A separate pattern of transactions involved two suspected Iranian nationals who managed to open accounts on Binance, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the company's user verification processes [25][26]. Compliance Program Efficacy - Experts have criticized Binance for not flagging suspicious activities promptly, especially given its previous legal issues related to sanctions evasion [11][30]. - The compliance program, which Binance claims is continuously improving, has faced scrutiny for allowing significant transactions to occur without immediate intervention [7][10]. Regulatory and Legal Implications - Binance's previous plea agreement with the U.S. government, which included a $4.3 billion settlement, has heightened expectations for its compliance obligations [32][33]. - The recent firings of investigators and ongoing investigations have raised concerns among lawmakers about Binance's transparency and adherence to compliance standards [34][35].

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Iran's alleged use of Binance to evade sanctions, with over $1 billion reportedly flowing through the exchange to Iran-backed terror groups [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The investigation involves officials contacting individuals knowledgeable about transactions linked to Iran, with a focus on whether Binance or its customers are being targeted [2]. - Previous reports indicated that Binance allowed approximately $1.7 billion in transactions related to Iranian and Russian sanctions evasion [3]. Group 2: Binance's Response - Binance has denied any direct transactions with sanctioned entities and claims to have identified and acted against links to Iran after initiating its own investigation [3]. - The exchange has filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for "false and defamatory reporting," asserting that the allegations have caused significant reputational harm [5][6]. - Binance's compliance program is highlighted as one of the largest in the crypto industry, with claims of a 96.8% reduction in sanctions-related exposure from January 2024 to July 2025 [6].

🚨 JUST IN: U.S. DOJ probes whether Iranian entities used Binance to evade sanctions, per WSJ. https://t.co/20I8V3Qp05 ...

And Binance is back under investigationzoomer (@zoomerfied):[ ZOOMER ]THE DOJ BEGINS INVESTIGATION INTO IRAN USING BINANCE TO EVADE SANCTIONS: WSJ ...

According to FT, the European Commission is proposing a blanket ban on crypto transactions with Russia to curb sanctions evasion. The plan would prohibit engagement with any Russia-established crypto asset service provider or platform, citing concerns that Moscow uses crypto to bypass restrictions. The proposal also targets Russia-linked crypto entities spun out of sanctioned platforms and includes a ban on digital rouble transactions. The measures are part of the EU’s upcoming sanctions package and require ...

🚨NEW: EU PROPOSES BAN ON ALL CRYPTO TRANSACTIONS WITH RUSSIAAccording to the Financial Times, the European Union aims to block Russian crypto assets to prevent sanctions evasion.This move targets both individual and institutional crypto flows connected to Russia.This could significantly impact cross-border crypto trading and liquidity involving Russian entities. ...

U.S. Treasury is investigating whether crypto platforms and infrastructure are facilitating sanctions evasion by Iran, shifting enforcement focus from individual wallets to "service layer" systems like exchanges, stablecoin ramps, and liquidity hubs. With Iran’s annual crypto transaction volume estimated between $8 billion and $10 billion, OFAC has for the first time sanctioned crypto exchanges operating within Iran’s financial system. https://t.co/A0fmuKuz0A ...

Group 1: Central Bank Activities - The Central Bank of Iran purchased $507 million of Tether's USDT stablecoin to manipulate foreign exchange markets and support the rial's value, which is currently trading at 1.4 million for one U.S. dollar [1] - The purchases were uncovered through leaked documents, revealing a systematic accumulation of USDT totaling at least half a billion dollars, indicating a strategy to bypass the global banking system [2] - It is unclear whether the Central Bank of Iran still holds any USDT, as most of it was sent to Nobitex, an Iranian crypto exchange [4] Group 2: Sanctions and Evasion - The United Nations reinstated sanctions on Iran in 2025 related to its nuclear program, prompting the country to resort to cryptocurrencies to circumvent restrictions [2] - There is an increased use of U.S. dollar stablecoins for sanctions evasion, particularly involving countries like Iran, Russia, and North Korea [3] - Tether has the ability to freeze accounts and collaborates with law enforcement in line with U.S. sanctions guidance, which may limit the Central Bank's ability to utilize USDT [4][5] Group 3: Domestic Impact - Regular Iranians are increasingly seeking the safety of cryptocurrencies amid economic turmoil and unrest, with rampant inflation contributing to the currency's collapse [6] - Street demonstrations against the government have intensified since December 28, reflecting the crisis in the country [6]

Core Viewpoint - SLB's acquisition of ChampionX Corp. for $7.8 billion aims to enhance its portfolio amid aging shale fields, while the company faces scrutiny for its continued operations in Russia despite sanctions [2][5][6] Group 1: Acquisition and Market Position - SLB agreed to acquire ChampionX Corp. for $7.8 billion in an all-stock deal, which will strengthen its position in the oilfield services market [2] - The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to provide better technology to U.S. drillers as they seek to maintain oil and gas production from aging shale fields [2] Group 2: Continued Operations in Russia - Despite U.S. sanctions imposed in January 2025, SLB has been reported to continue transferring proprietary drilling technology to Russian manufacturers as late as February 2025 [3][4] - SLB generated $1.4 billion in revenue from Russia in 2024, accounting for approximately 4% of the company's global total, indicating a significant ongoing presence in the Russian market [6] - The company has been criticized for its role in the Russian oil-service market, occupying 8% and contributing over $4.5 billion in taxes to the Russian economy [5][6] Group 3: Regulatory and Enforcement Challenges - SLB operates through a complex corporate structure that complicates U.S. enforcement of sanctions, allowing it to navigate regulatory gray areas [12][15] - The enforcement of sanctions has reportedly loosened under the current political climate, providing SLB with more flexibility in its operations [13][14] - The company has been actively recruiting young Russian engineers, suggesting a long-term commitment to its operations in Russia [9]