Iran's Top Crypto Exchange Run by Family Connected to Supreme Leaders

Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange has deep ties to the country's most powerful leaders, according to a new investigation.

Nobitex, which handles most of Iran's crypto trading (buying and selling of digital currencies like Bitcoin), was created by two brothers from the influential Kharrazi family. The brothers, Ali and Mohammad, used a different last name - "Aghamir" - to hide their connection to this powerful political dynasty.

The Kharrazi family has been close to Iran's supreme leaders for generations. Their grandfather helped choose Iran's top leader, and their father founded a political group and helped create Iran's Revolutionary Guard after the 1979 revolution.

Key facts about Nobitex: • Serves over 11 million customers in Iran • Kept running even during internet blackouts and conflicts • Processed over $100 million in transactions during recent wars • May have handled money from sanctioned entities (people or organizations banned from doing business internationally)

Investigators found that Iran's central bank (the government's main financial institution) sent hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency through Nobitex in 2025. This appears to be a way for Iran to move money around international sanctions (financial restrictions placed by other countries).

The U.S. government has already seized nearly $500 million in cryptocurrency linked to Iran as part of its efforts to enforce these sanctions.

Nobitex denies any government connections and says illegal transactions make up only a small part of their business.

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