DOJ seeks forfeiture of about $61M in crypto alleged tied to Iranian oil sales via Binance

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed for forfeiture of about $61 million in cryptocurrency that prosecutors say is linked to illicit Iranian oil sales and was laundered through Binance accounts or crypto transactions using the exchange as the platform involved ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

Reporting cited by the sources says the case is tied to allegations that proceeds from the black market sale of sanctioned Iranian crude oil and petroleum products were disguised via cryptocurrency flows, with the assets described as representing a portion of those proceeds ^{[2] [4]}.

One report adds that the civil forfeiture complaint was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and characterizes the action as occurring following the U.S. Treasury’s launch of “Operation Economic Outcast.” ^[3].