I just noticed some interesting information about Iran’s new activity in the Strait of Hormuz. It appears they are no longer satisfied with using the U.S. dollar, and have chosen to build a new system using digital currencies.

According to the information received, in early April, Iran publicly announced that large oil tankers passing through the strait must pay transit fees to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but with an important condition: no use of the U.S. dollar is allowed. There are only two ways to pay: in Chinese yuan or in a stable digital currency. The system’s technical installation was completed as of the end of March.

What’s especially interesting is that Iran has designed a multi-layered pricing structure, showing a complex approach to financial calculations. Fee rates start at $0.5 per barrel for partners such as China and Russia, up to $1.2–$1.5 for countries with close relations to the U.S. The U.S. and its allies are completely barred from using this system.

The mechanism is fairly intricate. After the vessel pays the transit fee, it receives an authorization code and route instructions. The ship must display the flag of the country with which it has made an agreement. Sometimes it must officially change its ship registration. When nearing the strait, it must announce a passphrase via radio, and then patrol vessels will come to escort it.

Most importantly, this is the first time a country has incorporated a digital currency into a strategic payment infrastructure. Unlike El Salvador’s move to make Bitcoin legal tender, Iran’s move has a practical, enforceable commercial scale. This strait handles about 21% of the world’s crude oil transportation. If the system continues, it is expected that more than $20 billion in stablecoins will flow through digital wallets controlled by Iran.

There are also challenges. Since USDT remains pegged to the U.S. dollar and is tracked by OFAC, it is a risk point. Digital currency transfers must be quickly converted into physical assets or riyals. International insurers have issued warnings that paying the IRGC could increase compliance risks, which would cause insurance policies to expire.

What is happening here is not just a change in the payment system. It is an adjustment to the derivatives of the entire global energy trade infrastructure. When commercial ships pay tolls with USDT via protocols on a blockchain, it systematically removes the remaining infrastructure from the Bretton Woods system.

Russia is doing something similar for the northern route, and they are also considering receiving digital currency payments. As long as Iran maintains its geographic monopoly over the strait, financial warfare using digital currency as a medium will continue to rewrite the global trade handbook. This is a profound shift and is likely to have long-term impacts on energy markets and global trade finance.