The creators of Nobitex are members of the Kharrazi family, one of the most influential in the country.
That exchange claims to have 11 million users, more than 10% of the Iranian population.
An investigation published by the Reuters news agency revealed that Nobitex, the main bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrency exchange in Iran, is under the control of brothers Ali and Mohammad Kharrazi, an influential family linked to the ayatollah regime.
According to the report, the founders of Nobitex They are part of one of the most influential dynasties in the Persian countrymaintaining direct marital and political ties with the current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
According to the investigation, this platform functions as an essential component of a parallel Iranian financial system designed to process funds from sanctioned state entities and circumvent international economic restrictions.
Analysis of corporate records and data from digital asset intelligence firms, such as Crystal Intelligence and Elliptic, made it possible to trace capital flows linked to the Central Bank of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is estimated that the Central Bank of Iran, an entity under US sanction, sent approximately $347 million to Nobitex only in the first half of 2025.
Reuters alleges that the Kharrazi brothers founded the company using the alternative surname Aghamir to publicly distance themselves from their political lineage. Nevertheless, The family has held key diplomatic and religious positions, advising the three supreme leaders since the 1979 revolution.
Despite presenting itself as a startup Independently, Nobitex currently handles 70% of digital asset transactions in Iran and has 11 million users, equivalent to 10% of the national populationaccording to the platform’s own data.
The exchange uses advanced techniques to make it difficult to trace funds, including constantly changing wallet addresses and transaction concealment tools. These practices seek to protect the movement of capital from the scrutiny of researchers and the policy of maximum economic pressure exerted by the United States administration.
Nobitex’s operation during the 2026 war has raised additional questions. While the Iranian government imposed general internet shutdowns to suppress social unrest, the exchange continued to operate.
Data from analysis firms cited by Reuters suggest that The platform operated through a state access “white list”even allowing the outflow of capital by sectors of the local elite to global markets.
Nobitex presents a dilemma for international regulators. Since it is used massively by ordinary citizens to protect their savings from inflation and the devaluation of the rial, it is difficult to impose direct sanctions without affecting the civilian population.
However, the revelation of its links with political power positions this digital currency platform as a critical infrastructure for the economic survival of the regime in the face of global financial isolation.