US forces lift blockade on Iranian maritime traffic, ending weeks of crypto-fueled workarounds

US forces lift blockade on Iranian maritime traffic, ending weeks of crypto-fueled workarounds The end of a naval standoff that saw Iran charging $2 million per vessel in Bitcoin and USDT to navigate the Strait of Hormuz Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 18, 2026 The US naval blockade on Iranian ports is over. US Central Command forces have stopped intercepting vessels bound for Iranian harbors.

The blockade, imposed on April 13 by CENTCOM, had turned away dozens of ships in its opening weeks. Its conclusion, confirmed around June 17-18, follows a June 14 agreement between the US and Iran to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan mediated the talks that produced the deal, announcing on June 18 that a memorandum of understanding implies the immediate reopening of the strait.

Full signing of the MoU is anticipated around June 19. When oil tankers started paying in Bitcoin During the standoff, Iran charged vessels up to $2 million per ship, or roughly $1 per barrel, for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The accepted currencies: Bitcoin, USDT, or Chinese yuan.

Advertisement Bitcoin’s rough ride through the conflict Bitcoin dropped below $73K amid escalating tensions, including drone incidents near the strait in mid-June. More than $1B in liquidations accompanied one of those sharp sell-offs. The Strait of Hormuz handles a substantial share of global oil transit.

Any disruption there sends shockwaves through energy markets, which in turn rattle equities, which then drag crypto down with them. What this means for investors For traders watching the short-term picture, Bitcoin’s recovery trajectory from the sub-$73K levels will depend heavily on whether the ceasefire holds and whether the MoU signing proceeds as expected around June 19. The $1B in liquidations during the recent drop is a reminder that leveraged positions remain dangerously exposed to headline risk from the region.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy. POLITICS US forces lift blockade on Iranian maritime traffic, ending weeks of crypto-fueled workarounds The end of a naval standoff that saw Iran charging $2 million per vessel in Bitcoin and USDT to navigate the Strait of Hormuz by Editorial Team Jun.

18, 2026 Share Add us on Google The US naval blockade on Iranian ports is over. US Central Command forces have stopped intercepting vessels bound for Iranian harbors. The blockade, imposed on April 13 by CENTCOM, had turned away dozens of ships in its opening weeks.

Its conclusion, confirmed around June 17-18, follows a June 14 agreement between the US and Iran to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan mediated the talks that produced the deal, announcing on June 18 that a memorandum of understanding implies the immediate reopening of the strait. Full signing of the MoU is anticipated around June 19.

When oil tankers started paying in Bitcoin During the standoff, Iran charged vessels up to $2 million per ship, or roughly $1 per barrel, for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The accepted currencies: Bitcoin, USDT, or Chinese yuan. Advertisement Bitcoin’s rough ride through the conflict Bitcoin dropped below $73K amid escalating tensions, including drone incidents near the strait in mid-June.

More than $1B in liquidations accompanied one of those sharp sell-offs. The Strait of Hormuz handles a substantial share of global oil transit. Any disruption there sends shockwaves through energy markets, which in turn rattle equities, which then drag crypto down with them.

What this means for investors For traders watching the short-term picture, Bitcoin’s recovery trajectory from the sub-$73K levels will depend heavily on whether the ceasefire holds and whether the MoU signing proceeds as expected around June 19. The $1B in liquidations during the recent drop is a reminder that leveraged positions remain dangerously exposed to headline risk from the region. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team.

For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.