Tag: Elliptic

Digital Lifeline Under Fire: Iran's Nobitex Records 700% Crypto Withdrawal Surge Within Minutes of US-Israeli Airstrikes

Within minutes of the first US-Israeli airstrikes hitting Tehran on February 28, 2026, cryptoasset outflows from Nobitex — Iran's largest exchange, serving 11 million users and processing $7.2 billion in transactions in 2025 — surged 700%. Approximately $2.9 million was withdrawn offshore in the first hour alone, against a previous hourly peak of $358,000. Total outflows between February 28 and March 1 reached nearly $3 million. Domestic crypto trading volume simultaneously collapsed 80%. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic characterized the activity as potential capital flight bypassing the traditional banking system — and the data reveals a great deal about how civilian populations in sanctioned, conflict-affected countries use digital assets as a financial survival mechanism.