Iran receives crypto for weapon sales
In an FT article, Iran is offering to sell advanced weapon systems including ballistic missiles, drones and warships to foreign governments in return for crypto.
The Financial Times reported that Iran’s Ministry of Defence Export Center, known as Mindex, is pitching deals that accept digital currencies, while also allowing barter arrangements and payments in Iranian rials.
The offer emerged over the past year and appears to be one of the first known cases of a nation-state publicly signalling it will take crypto for strategic military exports.
Mindex which has clients relations with 35 countries, has offered a catalogue that includes Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, Shahid Soleimani-class warships and short-range air defense systems, according to the report.
On the site, Mindex says buyers must agree to conditions about how weapons would be used “during a war with another country”, although it adds such terms are “negotiable between the contracting parties”.
Although prices are not listed buyers can arrange payments in the destination country with in person inspection of goods in Iran.
Crypto adoption in Iran is high, driven by sanctions, inflation, and a desire to bypass financial restrictions, with significant government interest in using it for international trade (like oil/arms) and revenue, alongside widespread retail use for savings.
In the recent Chainalysis MENA crypto adoption report 2025, Iran stood out because its persistent crypto ecosystem growth 11.8% more crypto volume in mid 2025 than during same period in 2024 and this is despite sanctions, economic pressures, and isolation from global financial networks and regulated crypto exchanges.
Some reports have noted that the user penetration rate is predicted to be 7.05% in 2025 and is expected to increase to 7.46% by 2026.
The Atlantic Council argued in 2024 that Iran was on track to replace Russia as a leading arms exporter.
