Iran demands cryptocurrency toll from tankers passing through Strait of Hormuz

Iran now demands cryptocurrency tolls—likely Bitcoin or a stablecoin—from any tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that turns a maritime chokepoint into a bizarre digital toll booth. According to shipping sources, the toll is set at $50,000 in BTC per passage, a figure that outpaces the typical $35,000 fee for traditional escorts. This policy, enforced via satellite tracking, creates an unpredictable cost that is 40% more volatile than the average surcharge, directly threatening global oil transit volumes.