Iran pays for $10M import order with crypto, plans to make it ‘widespread’ by Q4

Iran has completed its first foreign trade order for $10 million worth of import goods using cryptocurrency, according to a tweet by the country’s Vice Minister of Industry, Mine & Trade Alireza Peyman Pak.

این هفته، اولین ثبت سفارش رسمی واردات با #رمز_ارز به ارزشی معادل ۱۰ میلیون دلار با موفقیت صورت پذیرفت. تا پایان شهریور ماه، استفاده از رمز ارزها و قراردادهای هوشمند به صورت گسترده در تجارت خارجی با کشورهای هدف عمومیت خواهد یافت. #فصل_جدید_تجارت_خارجی

— علیرضا پیمان پاک🇮🇷 (@peymanpak_ir) August 9, 2022

According to Pak, this is the first of many such transactions

“By the end of September, the use of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts will be widespread in foreign trade with target countries.”

With the move, the country is finalizing plans to allow a large-scale adoption of cryptocurrencies for international settlement.

Companies can now use cryptocurrencies for settlement with foreign partners. Local media reports confirm that the Ministry of Industries, Mining, and Trade and the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) have agreed to this development.

“We are finalizing a mechanism for operations of the system. This should provide new opportunities for importers and exporters to use cryptos in their international deals.”

Peyman Pak has previously said.

Pak appeared to have identified cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology as crucial to whatever Iran seeks to achieve with its foreign trading partners.

Meanwhile, Iran has become a choice location for Bitcoin (BTC) miners due to its cheap electricity. A Reuters report revealed that 4.5% of all mining activity currently happens in Iran.

An estimate by Iranian crypto exchange Bitestan puts the number of crypto holders in the country at 12 million.

Bitestan CEO Hamed Mirzaei said,

“Iranians’ daily crypto transactions are estimated between 30 and 50 trillion rials ($181 million), and More than 88% of the deals are conducted via local exchange platforms.”