Iran will now require ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay their tolls in Bitcoin, according to sources at the Financial Times. Iran plans to charge ships crypto fees at tolls to pass through the Strait, tying the cryptocurrency market to a key global energy chokepoint.

The policy would apply to oil tankers seeking passage during a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The ceasefire was announced Tuesday night by US President Donald Trump.

According to statements attributed to Iranian officials, shipping firms would receive a Bitcoin payment request prior to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Once approved, vessels would be given a short window to complete the transaction. The structure reflects an attempt to bypass traditional financial rails that remain constrained by sanctions, while preserving a mechanism for enforcement over passage.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Iran would start demanding that ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz must pay fees in crypto or Chinese yuan. Now, the specific citation of paying in Bitcoin is sparking a rally for the cryptocurrency. BTC is now up 4% to $71,000 at press time, with analysts suggesting that the crypto market bottomed out last month.

The proposed toll system underscores how digital assets can intersect with state policy under pressure. For Iran, bitcoin offers a tool to collect revenue and assert control without reliance on intermediaries. For global shipping, it signals a potential change in how access to key infrastructure could be priced and enforced.