Headline: Bitcoin as a Shield Against Irans Currency Crisis Amid Protests Bitcoin как щит против валютного кризиса в Иране на фоне протестов

Protests in Iran, triggered by the collapse of the national currency, have highlighted the need for digital gold as a safeguard for savings. This was stated by Hunter Horsley, the CEO of Bitwise.

He described the situation in the country as a result of «economic mismanagement.» According to the expert, there is no single solution to overcome these challenges, but Bitcoin is definitely one of the most effective means for people around the globe to protect themselves against the depreciation of national currencies.

«Economic mismanagement is a story of the past, present, and future. Bitcoin offers a new way for individuals to secure themselves,» wrote the head of Bitwise.

While cryptocurrency trading is allowed in Iran, the regulations regarding asset storage remain somewhat unclear.

Mining is strictly regulated, with authorities intensifying efforts against illegal cryptocurrency mining in the country. In November alone, 104 farms were shut down in Tehran, and 1,465 devices were confiscated.

At the beginning of December, the Iranian rial fell to its lowest level ever recorded in the history of the Islamic Republic, hitting 1.2 million rials per US dollar.

By December 28, the national currency plummeted to 1.44 million rials per dollar. Following this, there was a sharp increase in purchasing prices for entrepreneurs, prompting store owners and other business operators to take to the streets of Tehran. Soon, ordinary citizens joined them with political slogans; protests turned mass and spread to other cities in the country, according to Bloomberg.

Police responded forcefully to the demonstrators, using tear gas against them.

The exchange rate has recovered to about 1.38 million rials; however, the situation remains critical.

According to media reports, the government has already held an urgent meeting to discuss «currency, trade, and social policy.» Following this, it was revealed that the head of the local central bank, Mohammad Reza Farzin, has resigned. He has been replaced by former economy minister Abdolnaser Hemmati.

When Farzin took office in 2022, the rial was trading at approximately 430,000 rials per dollar.

Bloomberg emphasized that the crisis in Iran is rooted in U.S. sanctions. Furthermore, the ongoing war with Israel has struck another blow to the economy, noted the Financial Times.

According to the national statistical center, the inflation rate in December rose to 42.2% year-on-year and increased by 1.8% compared to November. Food prices surged by 72%, while health and medicinal goods rose by 50% compared to the same period last year.

Local media also reported that the government plans to raise taxes in the upcoming Iranian year (beginning on March 21). This has further alarmed the citizens.

It’s worth noting that in December 2025, Iranian authorities announced plans to regulate cryptocurrencies to circumvent sanctions.