Venezuela and Iran lean on USDT; Dec. 5 data shows $3.3B blacklisted

Early-2026 instability in Venezuela and Iran has underscored the dual use of USDT: a hedge for residents against inflation and banking risk, and a channel allegedly used by sanctioned actors. Dec. 5 data indicates Tether blacklisted about $3.3 billion from 2023 to late 2025, while since 2023 a network linked to Iran's IRGC moved over $1 billion in stablecoins.