Bitcoin advocate in Iran detained for unknown reasons

According to a number of recent reports, a renowned Iranian supporter of Bitcoin Ziya Sadr was detained by security services in Iran late last month.

Nima Yazdanmehr, who claimed to be a friend of Sadr, told CoinDesk that Sadr was arrested on the streets of Tehran on September 19 and that he has not been freed. Yazdanmehr also stated that Sadr has not been charged with any crime. The arrest took place in the midst of widespread protests against the government in response to the state’s assassination of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Sadr, who is a well-known Bitcoin educator and YouTuber, is popular for translating major Bitcoin content into the Farsi language. He has also promoted ways of using Bitcoin for personal transactions that are more secure.

According to Yazdanmehr, Sadr is now being detained in the Fashafouyeh Prison, but he is allowed to communicate with his family and close friends.

In the weeks that followed the protests in Iran, the Iranian regime detained thousands of Iranian individuals and activists, including Sadr. 

It is unknown whether or not the Iranian government’s interest in Sadr is connected to the fact that he is a Bitcoin advocate. Interestingly, multiple sources claims that Sadr was not taking part in a protest when he was taken into custody.

According to Yazdanmerh, Sadr was scheduled to be released on bail on Sunday but the widespread arrests that have resulted from the demonstrations have created a delay in the processing of bail requests across Iran.

1/ Thread on Ziya Sadr, the Iranian Bitcoin educator detained by the regime amid #MahsaAmini protests

I've followed Ziya's work for years: he is an incredibly brave person who has helped thousands of Iranians achieve more freedom by teaching them how to use open source currency pic.twitter.com/y726kobBiS

— Alex Gladstein 🌋 ⚡ (@gladstein) October 9, 2022

The mixed stance of Iran

The world’s 17th-most populous country is known for its tugh stance toward the crypto industry, particularly miners. In June this year, Iran decided to cut power to crypto mining farms ahead of peak summer season. This came after its decision to introduce additional sanctions for illicit crypto mining activities in April, as TheCoinRise reported. 

However, the country has recently displayed a positive approach towards the industry and declared cross-border crypto transactions legal. In August, Iran imported its first $10 million worth of goods with crypto, as TheCoinRise reported.