Trump’s crypto venture shares blockchain links with Iran’s Nobitex

When Reuters examined public blockchain data, it found that Iran’s leading crypto exchange, Nobitex, has processed at least $2.3 billion on the Tron and BNB Chain networks since 2023 [2]. Those two blockchains are backed by crypto billionaires Justin Sun and Changpeng Zhao, who also support World Liberty Financial, the firm co‑founded by former President Donald Trump and his family.

Key takeaways

• Nobitex moved over $2 billion on Tron and $317 million on BNB Chain since 2023 [2].
• Tron was created by Justin Sun; BNB Chain (formerly Binance Smart Chain) was developed by Binance’s Changpeng Zhao [2].
• Both Sun and Zhao are major backers of World Liberty Financial, Trump’s crypto venture [2].
• No evidence shows the Trump family knew Nobitex used these blockchains [2].
• U.S. officials dismiss claims of a conflict, citing no direct relationship between World Liberty and Nobitex [2].

Shared blockchain infrastructure links Trump’s venture and Iran’s exchange

Reuters’ analysis of on‑chain data, supplied by crypto analytics firm Arkham, shows that Nobitex has relied heavily on the Tron and BNB Chain ledgers for transactions involving sanctioned Iranian entities and ordinary users. Since the start of 2023, the exchange processed more than $2 billion on Tron and at least $317 million on BNB Chain [2]. Both networks charge fees for usage, providing a tamper‑resistant record of transfers that can be accessed globally.

The same two blockchain platforms are championed by Justin Sun and Changpeng Zhao, who also back World Liberty Financial. World Liberty, co‑founded by Donald Trump and his family, has drawn credibility from Sun’s and Zhao’s involvement, although the Trump family has not been linked to Nobitex’s specific use of those chains [2]. A White House spokesperson rejected Reuters’ suggestion of a conflict, calling the report “totally laughable” and directing inquiries to World Liberty, which says it has no control over Tron or BNB Chain transactions [2].

Why it matters

The overlap highlights how global crypto infrastructure can bridge actors on opposite sides of geopolitical conflicts. While the U.S. and Israel are engaged in a war with Iran, Iranian funds continue to move through blockchain networks that enjoy endorsement from prominent U.S.‑based crypto figures tied to a former president’s venture. Critics argue this creates a “dramatic irony,” noting that the same platforms facilitating Iranian transactions are also used by entities the U.S. administration seeks to counter [2].

The administration’s denial of any conflict underscores the legal and reputational complexities facing politicians who maintain business interests in the crypto sector. As blockchain usage expands, regulators may scrutinize the indirect connections between sanctioned jurisdictions and high‑profile domestic ventures, potentially prompting tighter oversight of cross‑border crypto activity.