Iran has issued a seismic mandate requiring all vessels transiting the critical Strait of Hormuz to pay tolls exclusively in Bitcoin, directly linking the world's premier cryptocurrency to a vital global energy chokepoint. The unprecedented move, first reported by the Financial Times, represents a bold geopolitical gambit to weaponize financial infrastructure and could trigger immediate volatility across crypto and energy markets as the new policy takes effect.

The policy would apply to oil tankers seeking passage during a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The ceasefire was announced Tuesday night by US President Donald Trump.

According to statements attributed to Iranian officials, shipping firms would receive a Bitcoin payment request prior to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Once approved, vessels would be given a short window to complete the transaction. The structure reflects an attempt to bypass traditional financial rails that remain constrained by sanctions, while preserving a mechanism for enforcement over passage.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Iran would start demanding that ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz must pay fees in crypto or Chinese yuan. Now, the specific citation of paying in Bitcoin is sparking a rally for the cryptocurrency. BTC is now up 4% to $71,000 at press time, with analysts suggesting that the crypto market bottomed out last month.

The proposed toll system underscores how digital assets can intersect with state policy under pressure. For Iran, bitcoin offers a tool to collect revenue and assert control without reliance on intermediaries. For global shipping, it signals a potential change in how access to key infrastructure could be priced and enforced.