Iran Considers Bitcoin Toll for Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran is contemplating a new toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially requiring a $1-per-barrel fee payable in Bitcoin. According to NS3.AI, Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, indicated that this move could significantly impact maritime traffic. Arkham, a maritime analytics firm, estimates that a typical cargo ship carrying around 3 million barrels would face a payment of approximately $3 million in Bitcoin. Martin Kelly, head of advisory at maritime intelligence group EOS Risk, noted that this regulation could reduce the number of ships allowed to pass through the strait to 10–15 per day, a sharp decrease from the current average of about 135 ships.