Iran Now Accepts Crypto Payments for Weapons Exports

Ben Graham · January 3

Iran is now letting foreign buyers pay for advanced weapons using cryptocurrency, alongside barter and local currency. Officials from the Ministry of Defence Export Center, known as Mindex, confirmed that digital assets are being accepted as payment for overseas arms sales. Years of sanctions and isolation from global banking systems appear to have pushed Iran toward these alternatives to keep military exports moving.

Crypto Added to Payment Options for Foreign Arms Buyers

Mindex has updated its terms to officially include digital currency as a settlement option. The list also allows barter deals and payments in Iranian rials, giving buyers more flexibility in how they pay. The changes are meant to counter the impact of international banking restrictions, which have made it harder for Iran to move money through conventional channels.

NEED A MISSILE? IRAN WILL SELL YOU ONE FOR BITCOIN

Iran just opened up its weapons shop to anyone with enough digital cash, offering everything from killer drones to warships.

No banks, no questions, just crypto or a trade deal.

There’s even a chatbot to help you pick the… pic.twitter.com/sL3IAp4NNl

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 1, 2026

The Mindex website features a full catalogue of military offerings. These include Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, Shahid Soleimani-class warships, air defense systems, cruise missiles, rockets, and small arms. The agency has made it clear that any of these can be paid for using crypto, barter, or the national currency.

Sanctions Have Made Crypto More Appealing

For years, Iran has been under heavy sanctions from the United States, European Union, and others over its nuclear program and regional activities. These measures have blocked access to international banking, forcing Iran to find new ways to complete transactions. Digital currencies, with their peer-to-peer structure and resistance to traditional financial controls, have become part of that strategy.

According to Mindex, sanctions will not interfere with weapon deliveries. The agency says its general policy is to bypass restrictions entirely, offering assurance that buyers will receive their purchases without delays. The website also includes multilingual support and a chatbot to guide buyers through the process.

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Who Might Be Buying

Mindex claims to have relationships with 35 countries, though it does not reveal who they are. Analysts say this fits into a larger trend of countries under sanctions finding new ways to keep their trade flowing. Governments that work with Iran, using standard financial risk being cut off from U.S., EU, or UK systems. That threat has led some to explore crypto and barter as safer routes.

Security analysts also note how rare it is for a country to openly advertise crypto payments for strategic military equipment. Rather than hiding it, Iran is listing crypto payments on an official government website with clear terms, pricing, and delivery information.

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Implications for Global Arms Sales

The decision to accept crypto in official weapons exports reveals a change that could impact how arms deals are structured and tracked. Embargoes and financial restrictions have long shaped Iran’s economy. The use of digital currency is a way around that, and it might encourage other countries in similar positions to explore the same path.

Iran already ranks among the top 20 arms exporters in the world. Adding crypto to its accepted payment methods could make that business even harder to regulate. It also raises concerns for international watchdogs about how digital currency could be used in global arms trading.

This move is likely to draw scrutiny from regulators and governments alike. With crypto now part of Iran’s defense export strategy, the overlap between digital finance and global security has taken another step forward.

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