Overview
- Tether announced it will freeze any wallets linked to evading U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, following reports of PDVSA's increased use of USDT.
- Venezuela's state-run oil company, PDVSA, has been using USDT to facilitate oil transactions and avoid U.S. sanctions, leveraging intermediaries for added anonymity.
- The U.S. Treasury has not renewed a general license allowing certain oil transactions with Venezuela, intensifying the need for PDVSA to find alternative transaction methods.
- Tether has previously frozen wallets linked to various sanctioned activities, showcasing a pattern of compliance with global regulatory standards.
- Venezuela's reliance on cryptocurrencies like USDT highlights the broader trend of sanctioned states turning to digital currencies to bypass international restrictions.