Chainalysis: OFAC designates Iranian-linked crypto exchanges (Zedcex, Zedxion)
Chainalysis reports that OFAC has designated two UK-registered crypto exchanges: Zedcex and Zedxion. The post states the designation relates to the exchanges operating in Iran’s financial sector and processing cryptocurrency transactions. Chainalysis describes this as the first-ever action targeting digital asset firms in Iran’s financial sector. If confirmed, this could have immediate implications for sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and counterparty exposure assessments for exchanges, payment providers, and other market participants. However, only a single secondary source is provided here and no primary OFAC release is included in the input. Until confirmed via OFAC primary documentation, treat this as a high-priority compliance alert requiring verification rather than a fully confirmed regulatory update.
What to check
- Whether Zedcex and Zedxion appear in OFAC’s latest lists/updates and the exact identifiers (names/aliases).
- The effective date and the precise legal/official basis as stated by OFAC.
- Any related entities/addresses if listed in primary OFAC materials.
- Potential matches across your customer base/transaction flows for the names Zedcex/Zedxion (after confirmation).
Sources
- Chainalysis — Crime category (RSS): https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/ofac-designates-iranian-crypto-exchanges-january-2026/
Disclaimer
This content is based on publicly available sources and is provided for informational purposes only. Refer to primary sources and your internal compliance procedures before making decisions.