Gate News message, April 22 — Scammers posing as Iranian authorities are demanding cryptocurrency payments in Bitcoin or USDT from shipping companies in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to CoinDesk. Greek maritime risk firm Marisks has issued a warning that multiple shipping companies have received fraudulent messages claiming to be from Iranian officials. At least one vessel fell victim to the scam over the weekend, attempting passage through the strait before being shelled.
Marisks released the original scam message, which states: “After submitting documents and being assessed by Iranian security authorities, we will determine the cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT) fees required. Your vessel will then be permitted free passage through the strait at the designated time.” The firm confirmed these communications are fraudulent and do not originate from official Iranian sources. Since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iranian authorities, with approximately 20,000 oil tankers and cargo vessels currently stranded in the Gulf.
One week prior, U.S. President Trump ordered a naval blockade of the strait, resulting in the seizure of an Iranian vessel attempting to circumvent the operation. On April 9, Iranian authorities had legitimately proposed collecting cryptocurrency passage fees from ships in exchange for safe transit, with a spokesman for Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical exporters federation, Hamid Hosseini, suggesting Bitcoin as a potential settlement method. Iranian officials have not yet commented on Marisks’ warning.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo Says Bitcoin PoW Technology Enhances Cybersecurity, Supports National Security
Abstract: U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that Bitcoin's proof-of-work is a valuable computer science tool with important cybersecurity applications, capable of increasing the cost of cyberattacks and protecting data and command signals, thereby supporting national security. The piece notes echoes of Jason Lowery's 2023 warnings about Bitcoin's security implications.
Summary: Admiral Paparo told Congress that Bitcoin's proof-of-work enhances cybersecurity and national security by deterring attacks and protecting data, a view aligned with Jason Lowery's 2023 remarks.
GateNews35m ago
Crypto Markets See $60.08M in Liquidations in One Hour, BTC Accounts for $27.46M
Gate News message, April 22 — Over the past hour, cryptocurrency markets recorded $60.08 million in liquidations, according to Coinglass data. Bitcoin accounted for $27.46 million of the total, while Ethereum recorded $26.31 million in liquidations.
Short positions dominated the liquidation
GateNews35m ago
Whale Address Posts $9M Unrealized Loss on BTC Short After Month-Long Decline, Becomes Largest Short on Hyperliquid
A whale address opened a BTC short in early April; it now holds $77.14M in BTC shorts and $47.15M in ETH shorts, the largest short on Hyperliquid, with unrealized BTC losses around $9M and total losses over $13M, positions still open.
GateNews1h ago
Michael Saylor's Strategy Realizes 47,079 BTC Gain with 6.2% Return
Gate News message, April 22 — Michael Saylor announced on X that Strategy has realized a gain of 47,079 BTC, representing a 6.2% return valued at approximately $3.6 billion at current prices.
Saylor noted that Bitcoin gain (BTC Gain) is the closest measure to net income within a "Bitcoin
GateNews1h ago
Kelp DAO Hacker Transfers Over 106K ETH in 20 Hours, Converts 34.5K ETH to BTC via THORChain
Gate News message, April 22 — The suspected Kelp DAO hacker transferred 106,466 ETH to external wallets over the past 20 hours, according to on-chain data from Arkham. The attacker dispersed the funds across multiple addresses, a common money-laundering technique used to obscure transaction trails.
GateNews2h ago
Polymarket launches sustainable contracts: 10x leverage trading for BTC, NVDA, and gold
Polymarket announced on April 21 that it will launch sustainable contracts. The first batch of underlying assets will be Bitcoin, NVDA, and gold, with up to 10x leverage and 24/7 trading. It is now open to an early-user whitelist. After completing the CFTC DCM registration, it is able to offer long-position futures and perpetual contracts in the United States, with no expiration date. Around the same time, Kalshi announced a competing product, and market rumors suggest that the new round’s financing valuation is too high. Details such as fees, margin, and liquidation are pending publication ahead of the official launch.
ChainNewsAbmedia2h ago
